技能競賽的宗旨，在建立技能價值觀念，鼓勵青年參加技職教育與職業訓練，藉著競賽的方式，促進社會的重視，激起大眾的興趣，檢討技職教育與職業訓練的教育訓練成果，並藉相互切磋與觀摩，提高技術人員的技能水準。
值我國致力發展技術密集工業及服務業之際，對技術人力「量」與「質」之需求均感日益殷切。除應積極推展技職教育與職業訓練，擴大辦理技能檢定外，亦應全面舉辦技能競賽，以擴大影響，蔚成風氣，促進全國各界對技職教育與訓練之重視，使青年踴躍參加技職教育與職業訓練，成為國家經濟、社會建設主要力量。

The purpose of skill competitions is to establish the value of skills and encourage young people to participate in vocational education and training. The organizer aspires to raise social awareness, pique public interest, and review vocational education and training efforts through competition and enhance the skill of technical professionals through discussion and observation.
Taiwan is committed to developing technology-intensive industries and services. Therefore, there is a growing demand for "proficient" and "high-quality" skilled workers. Besides actively promoting vocational education and training and expanding skill certification, large-scale skill competitions should also be organized to raise the value of and encourage young people to actively participate in of vocational education and training to become the driving force of the economy and social construction.

我國自民國57年開始舉辦第1屆全國技能競賽，每年辦理1次，各職訓機構、職業學校與工商企業均踴躍提名選手參加競技，實為職業訓練與技職教育之年度盛事。同時全國技能競賽因肩負著選拔優秀選手代表國家參加國際技能競賽的任務，因此參賽者的年齡限制在21歲以下，俾符合國際技能競賽組織的規定。
為因應經濟快速發展對技術人才之需求，競賽職類亦由最初的14職類，增加至52個職類，參加全國技能競賽獲得前5名之選手，除獲頒獎金、獎牌與獎狀外，並可依中等以上學校技藝技能優良學生甄審及保送入學辦法等規定，參加甄審或保送至職業學校、五專、二專、四技或大學相關科系進修，俾成為理論與技術兼備之中堅技術人才。
參賽之選手並可依據技術士技能檢定及發證辦法規定：參加全國技能競賽成績及格，自及格日起三年內，參加相關職類乙級、丙級或單一級技能檢定者，得申請免術科測試。

The 1st National Skills Competition was held in Taiwan in 1968. Since then, the competition has been held annually, attracting the active participating of various vocational training institutions, vocational schools, and commercial enterprises. It is undoubtedly the biggest event in vocational training and education. At the same time, the National Skills Competition is tasked with selecting outstanding candidates to represent their country in the WorldSkills Competition. Therefore, the age restrict for the National Skills Competition is 21 years old or younger, which conforms with the age requirements of the WorldSkills Competition In response to the increasing demand for technical professionals amidst a rapidly growing economy, skill categories have increased from the initial 14 to 52.
Besides receiving a cash prize, medal, and certificate, competitors who rank top in the National Skills Competition are eligible for recommendation into selected vocational schools, five-year junior college programs, two-year junior college programs, four-year technical college programs, and university courses in accordance with the Articles Regarding Screening and Review and Recommendation Admission Regulations for Technically and Artistically Talented Students At Secondary Schools and Above, training them to become industries leaders.
In accordance with the Regulations on Technician Skills Certification and Issuance of Certificates, competitors who receive a passing score in the National Skills Competition are exempt from the written test when applying for Class B, Class C, or single class skills certification.

國際技能競賽係1950年由西班牙發起舉辦，目前國際技能組織（WorldSkills International）(舊稱International Vocational Training Organization)，2001年競賽名稱改稱為WorldSkills Competition，大會會旗logo亦隨之更改，2006年組織更名為WorldSkills International，簡稱WSI，2020年會員國計有超過84個國家（地區），秘書處設於荷蘭。該國際組織之宗旨在藉由國際技能競賽大會及研討會等活動，增進各國青年技術人員之相互觀摩、瞭解與切磋，加強國際間職業訓練與技職教育資訊與經驗之交流，進而促進各國職業訓練與技職教育之發展。
我國自1970年起參加該組織，自第20屆國際技能競賽大會起，每屆均派選手參加，成績表現優異，深獲國際間之重視。因此1993年第32屆國際技能競賽由我國主辦，於民國82年7月19日至8月2日在台北舉行，競賽過程順利，大會圓滿成功。

The International Skills Competition was introduced in Spain in 1950 by WorldSkills International (formerly known as International Vocational Training Organization). In 2001, the competition was renamed the WorldSkills Competition, and the flag logo was concurrently redesigned. The organization was renamed WorldSkills International (WSI) in 2006. Member countries (regions) exceeded 84 in 2020. The Secretariate is located in the Netherlands. WSI is committed to promoting the mutual observation, understanding, and exchange of young technicians and strengthening the transnational exchange of information and experience concerning vocational training and education through skill competitions, conferences, and seminars, thereby furthering the development of vocational training and education worldwide.
Taiwan has been a member of WSI from 1970 and partook in the competition every session since the 20th International Vocational Training Competition. Taiwanese competitors have always performed exceptionally, gaining considerable international attention. The 32nd International Vocational Training Competition was later hosted in Taipei between July 19 and August 2, 1993. The competition ran smoothly and was a great success.