He is a skilled man vs he is a skillful man?

[kwfine]

Dear teacher,

I can not differentiate between "skillful" and "skilled".
And I'd like to ask if there's any difference between these two men in the following sentences:

(1) He is a skilled employee in XYZ Company.
(1) He is a skillful employee in XYZ Company.

Thanks a lot.

Kitty

[Raymott]

Dear teacher,

I can not differentiate between "skillful" and "skilled".
And I'd like to ask if there's any difference between these two men in the following sentences:

(1) He is a skilled employee in XYZ Company.
(1) He is a skillful employee in XYZ Company.

Thanks a lot.

Kitty

"Skilled" means that he has attained certain abilities. It has a more formal meaning. You can prove that you are skilled by showing your certificate of proficiency, your trade certificate, or something similar.

"Skillful" means that he is clever and resourceful at what he does. It doesn't imply formal qualifications. It's a more subjective term.

So, a skilled tradesman should be, but is not necessarily, a skillful tradesman. He has learnt his trade and passed his exams, but he would need more than this to be called "skillful".