“A lack of digital skills can have a profound effect on people’s general life chances and employability. Around 40% of the European Union (EU) population have an insufficient level of digital skills — of which 22% have none at all. These are often older citizens, less educated young people, lower income families and migrants. What is more, 32% of the EU workforce have insufficient digital skills, with 13% assessed as having none at all. It should also be noted that across the EU, 42% of citizens with no computer skills are inactive in the labour market”(The European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens). In an era where technology is changing rapidly, developing and maintaining one’s digital skills is essential to keep up with the times.
Digital competence and skills are:
Job requiring digital skills make up 6-12% of all vacancies posted online in the 10 main economies of the EU and this share is steadily increasing (World Economic Forum). Infact, technological transformation is already an irreversible process that affects the day-to-day operations of companies of all sizes and in all sectors of activity. Nowadays most jobs require computer skills and digital knowledge, not only in the Tech Industry.
Also, an improved knowledge of technologies among the workforce is proved to improve efficiency and productivity, thus allowing for an improvement of wages. In this context, the development of digital skills it is necessary to facilitate the participation of citizens in the work force and to promote a more equal access to services.