Eliminating digital poverty has to be at the top of the priority list
It’s a startling fact that, during the Covid pandemic, one fifth of UK students did not have access to laptops or digital devices, and today,…
Digital Skills Gap
What is the digital skills gap
The gap between the demand and supply of workers with the digital skills sought by employers.
Why is there a digital skills gap?
There is a shortage of qualified digital professionals in the workforce, changes in the job role, industry standards that require re-training, or fast-moving trends. This is due to several factors, including the availability of digital skills programmes.
Statistics
- In 2017, the European Commission estimated that more than 1.2 million UK businesses are underperforming due to “insufficient digital awareness and lack of necessary skills”
- A 2022 workforce study highlighted an estimated shortage of 3.43 million cyber security professionals globally, up 25% from 2021
How can we fix it?
- Businesses need to invest in training their employees on new technologies
- Having a continued focus on integration of digital skills within other subjects
- Government policies that support the development of the digital workforce. For example, providing financial incentives for businesses to train their employees on new technologies
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Tackling the Digital Skills Gap requires concerted effort – Ethical financing is only part of the solution
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Bridging the ever-growing digital skills gap with low-code
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