Unlocking Digital Skills: How Can Young People Thrive In A Digital World?
In this blog, we will explore the digital skills gap and how young people can develop the digital skills they need to thrive in the digital world.
As the world around us becomes increasingly digitised, it’s more important than ever for young people to develop strong digital skills. 82% of UK jobs already require digital skills, and it has been estimated that by 2030 20% of the workforce in the UK will be significantly under-skilled in their jobs.
‘Digital skills’ is an incredibly broad term - we are focussing on Digital Skills For Work which includes proficiency with common software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; ability to communicate digitally, and the ability to learn new digital skills.
The need for digital skills is not lost on young people, 88% realise that their digital skills will be essential for their careers. However, nearly 75% of young people do not feel they have the digital skills that they need to thrive.
The Lloyds Essential Digital Skills Report suggests that almost all (97%) 18-24 year olds have ‘foundation level’ digital skills (93% for those without higher level qualifications). However, research suggests that once you move beyond the ‘foundation level’ to the required Digital Skills For Work, the picture changes. This is reinforced by Learning At Work Institute research showing that fewer than half of British employers believe young people are leaving full-time education with sufficient digital skills.
Catch22 and Nominet found that in the eyes of young people, not all schools and workplaces are providing good enough digital skills training.
The impact of this can already be recognised in the workplace, with 76% of firms believing this lack of digital skills will hit their profitability. There would be significant benefits to improving employees' digital skills for work by providing them with relevant training.
A recent Microsoft study found that 69% of leaders feel their organisation suffers from a digital skills gap. 59% of employees believe in the importance of developing their digital skills and almost 60% said the easiest way for them to develop these skills would be through work. However only 23% were receiving any training through their workplace, and 58% said their employer has never provided them with training to improve their digital skills.
Fewer than half of British employers believe young people are leaving full-time education with sufficient digital skills for work. Catch22 and Nominet found that 12% of school aged respondents agreed believing their school did not provide good digital training, and almost a quarter of those who have left school (23%) did not think their school provided good enough training in the use of technology. There should be an emphasis in the curriculum on how important it is for young people to learn digital skills for work from a young age.
The number of young people taking IT subjects such as computing at GCSE has dropped 40% since 2015. 61% of the teachers surveyed who are responsible for teaching computing have no formal training or background in the subject, while nearly a quarter cited limited teacher knowledge and a lack of digital skills as a key challenge to teaching computing.
The computing skills that are taught in UK schools are limited to one lesson rather than integrated across the curriculum. There is a need to treat digital skills not as a subject to be learned in isolation but as an operating environment in which we learn. This might include using Excel and data analysis in maths lessons, structuring an email alongside traditional letter writing and creative writing, and using a computer as well as handwritten work in early years.
To ensure that young people can thrive we must encourage them to pursue the digital skills that they are not picking up in education or in the workplace. Not only will this prepare them for a successful career, but it will also give them the opportunity to create positive and lasting change in the world as they gain the required knowledge and confidence to thrive in the digital world.
Our Digital Skills and Employability programme has successfully upskilled 109 young people that are now in digital careers and are still receiving career support post-programme. Our aim is for all the young people that we work with to arrive at positive destinations such as good digital jobs, education/training, apprenticeships, self-employment, increased skills, increased confidence, and increased awareness.
There are many ways that young people can acquire the digital skills for work that they need, from formal training programs to self-learning. Here are some useful tips:
Take courses: Courses such as our free Digital Skills & Employability programme are a great way to learn specific digital skills for work.
Attend workshops/webinars: These help you to network and meet new people in the digital industry, whilst learning new digital skills for work.
Learn from mentors/coaches: Receiving guidance from a mentor can help you gain a better understanding of which digital skills you need to develop for work. Participants of our Digital Skills & Employability programme benefit from a work coach that supports them as an individual. The programme also features guest speakers in the digital industry which gives young people an opportunity to network with industry professionals and ask any relevant questions.
Follow online tutorials/courses: Following tutorials can help you learn and practice different digital skills. Participants of our Digital Skills & Employability Programme benefit from access to online courses that allow them to upskill themselves for work.
Consider an apprenticeship: An apprenticeship is a hands-on learning process that can help you gain digital skills while gaining work experience.
Join communities: Joining online communities, forums, and discussion boards can help you gain a better understanding of digital skills through conversations. The Social Switch Projects alumni gain access to events that allow them to network and learn from each other.
The potential impact of the digital skills gap, especially on the younger generation, is immense. Having digital skills for work is no longer just advantageous but, in many cases, a necessity.
Young people are entering a digital world, and having digital skills for work gives them the edge they need to thrive. The modern working world will only become more reliant on technology, ensuring the demand for digital skills will continue to rise alongside it.
At a national level we need to take steps to address the digital skills gap, as it presents an enormous risk not only to those who may be unable to access digital jobs, but also to the wider economy.
Resources:
Learn more about our Digital Skills & Employability Programme
Read Insights Paper 1: Opportunities and Barriers Catch22 and Nominet here