THE
Digital skills shortages, which put the
In the autumn statement, the Chancellor rightly identified digital technology as one of the
This is more than a financial issue. It also impacts the prospects of our workforce. According to our survey, current
Yet, training is available. Industry already offers a plethora of online opportunities, from basic digital skills to courses on technological developments. For example, our online digital learning platform Trailhead is accessible to all for free. But not enough people know about these types of resources or have the confidence to take them up.
The digitally unskilled need help understanding that technology is an accessible gateway into so many roles, not just coding and app design. And tech savvy individuals need retraining opportunities in high-demand areas like AI and Blockchain.
That this training exists, but isn’t used is a clear missed opportunity. We should, as a country, establish a national online digital skills platform to bring together programmes from industry, training providers and educational institutions, and highlight where to access training. The digital equivalent of the
For me, equally worrying is that today’s young people do not recognise the importance of digital skills. We found that schoolchildren ranked digital skills as only the seventh most important aspect of the 2030 workplace. Sadly, computer science was the fifth dream job for boys and not even in the top 10 for girls. A future generation that lacks awareness of digital capabilities means our national skills crisis will only grow.
Ultimately, businesses have a responsibility to train the nation. But the government needs to work with businesses and academic institutions.
Failure to act will compromise
£ Zahra Bahrololoumi is chief executive officer of
(c) 2022 City A.M., source
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