Digital skills

Using a search engine to find out the result of a football match, managing our money through online banking, posting on social media to share a funny video with our friends, or requesting a birth certificate for a newborn. These all require digital skills. But digital skills do not only concern what is useful in our personal lives; they also help us in our workplaces.  

In Europe, more than 90% of professional roles require a basic level of digital knowledge, just as they require basic literacy and numeracy skills. The use of digital is spreading across all sectors from business to transport and even to farming. Yet, around 42% of Europeans lack basic digital skills, including 37% of those in the workforce.  

That is why the EU is investing in programmes to train Europeans and expand the talent pool in Europe so we can be confident our future in the digital world. These programmes include:  

• European Skills Agenda 
• Digital Education Action Plan 
• Digital skills and jobs coalition 

Improving our digital skills beyond a basic level is important too. Advanced digital skills can help us in jobs such as digital marketing, social media, and more. And, the need for digital skills at work will only increase.  

More Europeans with stronger digital skills will strengthen Europe's competitiveness in the digital world, and drive us towards a more equal society.