Plugging the digital skills gap.
Date: 2023-07-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Subjects: apprenticeship, competitiveness, digital literacy, digital transformation, distance learning, economic growth, labour market, professional qualifications, social integration, vocational education, vocational training, working conditions

PLUGGING THE 
DIGITAL SKILLS GAP

June 2023 
#EuropeanYearOfSkills

Digital skills are essential for people to participate in society, work, and achieve social inclusion. They 
are also crucial for the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness. In addition, digital jobs offer more 
autonomy, skills development, job satisfaction, and usually come with better working conditions.

THE SITUATION

In the future, 

More than 1/3  
of the EU’s labour force 

90%  
of jobs

will require  
digital skills.

lack the digital skills 
required in most jobs. 

Only

More than 

54%  
of the people 
in the EU

70% of 
businesses

aged 16-74 can 
perform basic digital 
tasks.

report a lack of staff 
with adequate digital 
skills as an obstacle to 
investment. 

The EU faces  
a critical shortage  
of digital experts

9.4 million  
ICT specialists

Less than 20%

including for cybersecurity 
and data analysis.

are employed  
(4.6% total EU employment).

of ICT specialists and 
graduates are women.

Member States have planned €2 billion in 
European Social Fund Plus programmes and 
€23 billion in their Recovery and Resilience 
plans to support the development of digital skills. 

Digital Europe invests €580 million  
to advance digital skills.

EU INITIATIVES TO BOOST DIGITAL SKILLS

Digital skills are a priority of the European Year of Skills and the Digital Education Action 
Plan 2021-2027.  

The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the Digital Decade set targets on 
digital skills by 2030: 

at least 
80%

20  
million

of people in the EU with 
basic digital skills

ICT specialists employed with 
better gender equality.

The Commission adopted two proposals for Council recommendations on digital 
education and skills and announced a Cybersecurity Skills Academy. 

The Commission is testing with several Member States a European Digital Skills Certificate 
to help people get their digital skills recognised across Europe by employers, governments, 
training providers, and more. The certificate will be rolled out in 2024. 

The European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) maps the skills of people able to 
use technology. It supports policymaking, training design and certification. A self-assessment 
tool based on DigComp is also available in Europass and on the Digital Skills and Jobs 
Platform. 

Since the launch of the Pact for Skills, a flagship initiative under the European Skills 
Agenda, 18 large-scale partnerships have been set up with pledges to help develop the 
skills of at least 10 million workers including digital skills.  

The renewed European Alliance for Apprenticeships promotes apprenticeships for the green 
and digital transitions.  

The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition brings together Member States, businesses, social 
partners, non-profit organisations and education providers on digital learning opportunities.  

The Digital Education Hub facilitates collaboration 
and best practices sharing among stakeholders in 
education and training.  

Erasmus+ supports the development of digital 
skills through initiatives like Centres of Vocational 
Excellence and Blueprint Alliances. 

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