This paper reviews, from 1990-2010, the place of different aspects of skill in the literature associated with the influential world conferences of Jomtien and Dakar. It then looks at the particular history of the treatment of skill within the series of global monitoring reports (GMRs) from 2002-2010. The GMR was one of the key mechanisms set up, with the support of development agencies, to assess progress on the six Dakar goals, one of which, goal 3, was concerned with skills. The protracted journey towards an agreement finally to have a GMR on skills for young people and adults is traced for the first time. (Contains 2 tables and 31 footnotes.)