SEMI-SKILLED WORKER

A worker who, after short and informal training, is able to perform a limited number of routine and non complex operations, but who is not required to have specific qualifications.

"Skilled labor is relatively abundant in Canada and the United States compared to Mexico, and vice versa. The economies of Canada and the United States, being highly developed, are predicted to have a comparative advantage in the supply of highly-skilled labor. Those with fewer skills in these countries will be at a certain disadvantage. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers in the United States and Canada will see a decline in demand for their services since goods that they once produced will be imported from Mexico. In contrast, low-skilled labor in Mexico should benefit by attracting industries focused on labor-intensive production, while more highly-skilled individuals will find themselves facing increased competition."
(Merolla, J., et al., Globalization, Globalización, Globalisation: Public Opinion and NAFTA, American Political Science Association, 2001, visited 2009-09-02)

Semi-skilled workers are employees who have generally received some short and limited training. They frequently have manual skills and perform routine, well-defined tasks, exercising little independent judgment.
Semi-skilled workers have less training than skilled workers and more than unskilled workers.
(adapted from Roberts, H. S., Roberts' Dictionary of Industrial Relations, Washington, D.C.: Bureau of National Affairs, 1994)

Truckers, automatic machine operators, and wine waiters are examples of semi-skilled workers.

The semi-skilled worker is the intermediate category of worker in the industrial hierarchy. Indeed, the "semi-skilled worker" is below the "skilled worker" but above the "unskilled worker."