The Digital Skills Gap: What's The Problem And What Can You Do About It?

The digital economy is the economy, so the rise in demand to fill the ever-growing digital skills gap is no surprise. And if the UK doesn’t find the skills and people to meet this demand, they could lose out on as much as £141.5bn in the next decade. But the right talent isn't available, leaving many wondering what's the problem? And what can we do about it? To answer these questions, we explore some core statistics and solutions, and speak to Adam Smith, Head of Digital at Career Ready, a UK-wide social mobility charity, to find out more about the role of young people.

The problem

Whilst 82% of online job ads are for occupations where digital abilities are a prerequisite, 52% of the current UK workforce don’t actually have the necessary skills. You'd think given how digital savvy the younger generation are, they'd be perfect to replace those leaving employment - but there's a concern that they won't have the right skills either. Plus, there's still a lack of STEM subjects being chosen in schools and colleges, so it's clear they need to be pitched better to improve take up. Much of digital is based around analysing data and learning new software. Young people shouldn't go in blind - they should know what their future career will require. What's more, they need to be aware that jobs won't be replaced by technology - they will be complemented by it.

The solution

Training up the younger generation is an option, but it's not the only one - especially when we need to wait for them to finish their education first. Organisations set up to help prepare school and college leavers for the world of work are dedicated to educating teachers and pupils on the skills and knowledge needed to have successful careers. One such organisation is Career Ready. Instead of focusing on addressing digital tools, their programme homes in on career skills development through real opportunities and support for young people in the form of paid internships and volunteer mentors from the world of work. Employers are looking for people with a learning mindset, who can adapt. After all, today's digital world will look completely different in a decade, and it's important that our future workforce knows what to expect. That's why Cast UK work hard to secure talent for our clients who already possess this learning mindset, and are agile in their approach to be able to adapt and pick up the new skills you require. An analytical mindset is a bonus too, across all specialisms, but especially for roles in the supply chain, where data is becoming increasingly important, so they can collate and interpret it to ensure the correct strategies are put in place.

What you can do

To get this talent into your business, you need to take action. We recommend working with organisations like Career Ready, so you can engage young people and make your company and sector more visible to them. Adam suggests telling them about the specific skill sets needed in your company, and how they could upskill, stand out and gain a role. Career Ready work with companies that want to go one step further and offer students a paid month-long insight into a potential career. This is much more beneficial than the usual two weeks’ work experience, and improves diversity by supporting those who can’t afford to take such placements unpaid. As for spotting the employees with a learning mindset, it's a good idea to assess your current workforce. Perhaps you feel your team members lack digital skills, but are you providing them with the necessary learning opportunities? By offering these, you can upskill your existing talent. Circumstances may dictate that you need to recruit to fill the digital skills gap. It's crucial you get this right - your new employees should possess a learning mindset and be able to move with agility. Ultimately, though, your business requirements and the tight candidate talent pool may demand you seek outside help...

Fill your digital skills gap with Cast UK

Don’t look any further than the experienced team here at Cast UK. We’re experts in securing talent with digital and data skills, who are agile and learning oriented. Our CASTTalent recruitment solution provides the flexibility businesses need to support all of your staffing strategies. Find out more here. Or, why not call for a chat about how we can help you get the skills you need? Get in touch on 0333 121 3345 or at hello@castuk.com.