The demand for digital skills in the EU has reached unprecedented levels, with forecasts showing continued growth over the next decade. The evidence presented in this note highlights the crucial role of digital skills in boosting economic development and strengthening global competitiveness. Furthermore, it stresses the need to accelerate the implementation of digital policies and strategies. Facilitating the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, investing in the capacities of educators and trainers, and modernising education and training systems are identified as key measures to ensure that the benefits of the digital revolution are accessible to all citizens.
The political context concerns the following topics:
- Digital technology is a cornerstone of the transformation of businesses
- Lack of staff with strong digital skills blocks investment
- Artificial intelligence has become a driver of productivity and competitiveness
- One in two adults in the EU has only basic digital skills
- Just digital transformation in the EU is impossible without investing in digital skills
The ‘ Evidence’ section shows that:
- ICT workers are still in difficulty but growth in demand slows down
- Employment for ICT workers is expected to increase in all sectors
- The labour market for IT professions is restricted
- Process development and operational ICT roles are gaining ground
- SQL and Javascript currently the most requested programming languages
- Demand for AI skills remains low: few EU companies have adopted technology
- Blockchain skills required also in non-IT professions
- Digital skills needs transcend IT occupations: more sectors are rapidly becoming more digital
In conclusion, it is shown that teachers, trainers and skills ecosystems strengthen the role of VET as a provider of digital skills and that information on online workplace advertising contributes to the implementation of education and training policies. In particular, the most relevant evidence is that big data analysis offers enormous potential for skills intelligence.