The Wiley’s Digital Skills Gap Index 2021 report, conducted across the APEC economy, shows that people believe it is the most important and relevant skill of the 21st century.
Based on the mission of the power of discovery and learning, Wiley conducts research on digital skills in various APEC economies, including India. The purpose of the Digital Skills Gap Index (DSGI) survey is to present a complete picture of the digital skills ecosystem of the economy.
Below are some interesting key findings from the report:
- Eighty-five percent of respondents to the survey across APEC believe that the most relevant skill of the 21st century is problem solving, while 80.3 percent of participants agree that the most important technical skills are data analysis and algorithms.
- Only 4.2 percent of APEC respondents are fully satisfied with the level and availability of digital skills.
- Nearly half of respondents believe that current employees are not equipped to handle data ethically.
- Across the APEC economy, the education and training sector has been identified as a broad digital skills gap sector.
- 54.8 percent of respondents believe that the education system is somewhat responsive to employers’ need for digital skills.
- The survey revealed that 61.8 percent of students graduating from third-tier educational institutions possess relevant digital knowledge for an entry-level job.
- 48.6 percent of people from APEC agree that there is a significant gender gap in STEM cases.
- About 60.6 percent of survey respondents acknowledged that the availability of digital skills training programs does not meet the needs of the day.
- The percentage of respondents who see that in terms of digital knowledge, employer needs and applicant skills are equal to 51.4 percent.
- More than 10 percent of respondents feel that poor digital awareness and understanding as well as prevention of re-skills and upskilling is the biggest challenge in closing the digital skills gap.
Commenting on the results of the study, Philip Kisre, SVP and GM, International Education, Wiley, said: This helps both employees and employers to adapt to their new normal working conditions. Not only that, with the widespread use of new and advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, data analytics, etc. across the industry, special digital skills and employee demand have seen a tremendous rise. Gone.
Through Wiley’s Bridge Innovative Learning Solutions, WileyNXT and mthree, we’re working to close the gap between talent and skills. The data clearly shows that in order to prepare for the future workforce, we must be prepared to take on skills, high skills and re-skills. “