DCF Cymru Digital competence for Wales

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Skills for Work: Working in Wales

Working in Wales is a Pearson Skills for Work unit about the Welsh job market: types of jobs, sectors and major employers, trends such as homeworking and technology, how Wales fits into the international economy and which overseas companies operate here, and the skills needed in at least three sectors at Level 1 and Level 2. It is one 10 hour unit that learners combine with others into a Pearson Skills for Work Award, Certificate or Diploma, from Entry 1 to Level 2, assessed internally by the centre. Digital demand is low: no criterion requires technology. Digital work sits in researching sources, presenting findings, the influence of technology and AI on jobs, and acknowledging sources and AI.

Awarding body
Pearson
Level
Entry Level 1 to Level 2
Guided learning hours
10
First taught
September 2027
Amount of digital work
Low
Specification
Open the specification
How this unit is assessed
  • Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): One assessment criterion at each of Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3, rising from stating basic features of the local job market and generic skills for one sector to identifying features of the Welsh labour market, global companies in Wales and skills for two sectors. There are no mandatory evidence requirements. Internally assessed by the centre through a centre-devised assignment or Pearson's adaptable Authorised Assignment Brief, subject to Pearson standards verification, graded Pass or Fail. 10 guided learning hours.
  • Level 1 and Level 2: One assessment criterion at each of Level 1 and Level 2: describe (Level 1) or explain (Level 2) the key features of the Welsh job market, how it relates to other countries and the international economy, and the skills required in a range of at least three sectors. Level 2 learners research and present this information. Internally assessed by the centre, subject to Pearson standards verification, graded Pass or Fail. 10 guided learning hours.

Skills that use Evaluating and improving digital content

  1. Presenting sector research

    Assessed: Taught, but not assessed

    Level 2 learners research and present information on the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful employee in at least three sectors of the Welsh economy, and Level 1 learners organise their findings and present them clearly. The format is the centre's choice, so a digital presentation is suggested rather than required.

    DCF: Creating digital content, Evaluating and improving digital content

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils make a one slide fact file about a local employer with its logo, what it does and one job it offers.
    Year 8
    Pupils build a short slide show comparing two sectors in Wales, with a table of the skills each needs.
    Year 9
    Pupils create a presentation on three Welsh sectors, choosing charts and images that suit a Year 9 audience and checking the layout is clear.
    Show the specification wording and the DCF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Essential information for assessment decisions, Level 2, page 99; Levels of supervision and support, Level 1, page 99

    “research and present information on the skills and knowledge required to be a successful employee”
    Progression step 3

    • I can use a range of software to select, produce and edit a range of multimedia components for a purpose, such as:

      • text and images, e.g. format text (bold, underline, italics, highlight); insert and edit text boxes; columns; use refine tools (spellchecker, find and replace); word wrap; crop; alter size and shape; alter images; add effects; trim and split sound and video clips; transitions; onion skin
      • presentation, e.g. page orientation; animations; transitions; remove and alter images; use background; use action buttons to create hyperlink; embed objects.

    • I can ensure my output is appropriate for specific purposes.

    Progression step 4

    • I can select and use a variety of appropriate software, tools and techniques to create, modify and combine multimedia components for a range of audiences and purposes, such as:

      • text and images, e.g. explore and use effectively image manipulation techniques; explore and use appropriately the many aspects of document layout; use animation, video and audio effects such as echo, tempo, envelope, layering, frame rate, key frames
      • presentation, e.g. use design tools; adapt themes and colours to suit the purpose; create master templates.

Good to know

Links with other qualifications

Work on sectors, major employers, trade and global companies in Wales links with GCSE Business and GCSE Geography, and changing patterns of work such as homeworking link with GCSE Social Studies. Researching sectors gives a natural bridge to the vocational qualifications on the page, for example VCSE Built Environment, VCSE Hospitality and Catering, VCSE Travel and Tourism and VCSE Public Services. Within the WJEC Skills Suite, Jobs of the future and Understanding the changing labour market cover neighbouring labour market ideas. Compared with the WJEC Working in Wales unit, which has the same 10 hours, the Pearson unit leaves out the Welsh language outcome entirely and gives more weight to Wales in the international economy, including naming a company from abroad that operates in Wales at Entry 3.

Source: Pearson Entry Level 1 to Level 2 Skills for Work Award, Certificate and Diploma Qualifications Specification, Issue 1, August 2026, Unit SfW 19: Working in Wales.