Digital skills: challenges and opportunities during the pandemic (2021)

This European Centre's for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) report investigates how the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digital skills demand in information and communications technology (ICT) - and non-ICT-related occupations, and provides policy-related suggestions.

The research results show that ICT knowledge and digital skills are mostly requested from ICT professionals and ICT technicians, followed by research, engineering and clerical occupations. Elementary workers, factory workers and people providing personal services rely comparatively much less on digital skills.

According to the report, while there are many activities focusing on initial vocational education and training (IVET) learners, more extensive progress needs to be made in continuing VET, addressing the digital skill gap of adult citizens. In addition, training teachers and trainers in digital competences so that they can effectively support learners, is often an underdeveloped part of national skill systems. Policy makers should consider these aspects when addressing the digital skills topic.