Across 19 countries, workers scored 33 out of a possible 100 points on the ‘Digital Skills Readiness Index’ across areas such as preparedness, access to learning resources, skill level, and participation in training.
Workers in the US fared slightly better at 36 out of 100 points.
The vast majority of respondents (83 percent) claim “advanced” or “intermediate” everyday social media skills, and 76 percent say the same for everyday digital communication skills.
However, only one-third feel prepared for the workplace social media skills needed over the next five years, said the report that came out late on Thursday.
Two-thirds of respondents say they’re unprepared for social media skills that the workplace will require over the next five years.
Over 6 in 10 global respondents say skills in collaboration technology like Slack are viewed as the most important skills needed by businesses today and over the next five years.
Only 31 percent of Gen Z respondents, the first truly digital native generation, feel “very equipped” for a digital-first job right now.
Not many Gen Z respondents believe they have “advanced” digital skills in areas like coding (20 percent), data encryption and cybersecurity (18 percent), and AI (7 percent), the findings showed.
When it comes to digital skills readiness and education, senior leadership and their workforce aren’t on the same page.
A majority of senior leadership respondents (54 percent) said they are prepared with the digital skills necessary now.
“However, less than half of managers and individual contributors agree, signalling a disconnect within organisations,” the report mentioned.
It’s a common assumption that developed countries and younger generations feel more prepared for the digital skills demanded by today’s jobs.
“But these findings challenge those assumptions. In fact, many respondents say they feel unequipped and unprepared for some of the most important digital skills needed for the workplace,” the report noted.
Younger generations have more confidence and ambition to learn skills they don’t know as well.
Across the globe, 36 percent of Gen Z and Millennials are “very actively” participating in learning and training, compared to only 22 percent of Gen X and 15 percent of Baby Boomers, said the report.
