​​​​​​The lack of digital skills and access to digital networks slows efforts to re-build safe, healthy and efficient social and working environments and exacerbates the world's existing, stark digital divide, say international experts in the 2021 edition of Digital Skills Insights, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today.

Digital Skills Insights 2021 provides expert insights to equip policy-makers and regulators for informed decision-making, encourage further research on the impact of COVID-19 on skills development, and help anticipate rapidly evolving digital skills requirements.

Among the latest key recommendations:
- Countries need to collect data and evidence, take stock of current skill levels, and identify local gaps and needs before initiating policy measures or embarking on new initiatives.

- National digital skills frameworks must be adapted to reflect each country's labour market and skills gaps.

- Digital skills and digital access are interdependent, requiring concurrent implementation of last-mile connectivity, other infrastructure-related measures, and training initiatives.

“Everyone deserves access, not just to digital devices and connectivity, but also to the essential skills and knowledge to thrive in today's technological world," said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General.

“Closing the digital skills gap remains an essential, and increasingly urgent, aspect of establishing universal connectivity. Governments and industry must collaborate to help build and upgrade people's digital skills in all countries."

The world has paid more attention to digital skills over the past year, with countries looking closely at supply and demand for key competencies, researchers evaluating the impact of ongoing digital transformation, and policy-makers reviewing current frameworks and designing new interventions to address skills gaps for future requirements at the national level.

“In this period of continued uncertainty, a collective global effort is needed to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has digital skills and network access," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “These are prerequisites to adjust to a 'new normal' and come out stronger. Lack of digital skills and access, in contrast, are barriers that slow down joint efforts and exacerbate an already existing and stark digital divide."

How to address digital skills gaps
Countries striving for digital transformation need to start with rigorous data and evidence collection, address specific digital skills gaps, and roll out relevant training in parallel with new network infrastructure, Digital Skills Insights 2021 confirms.

The eight articles in this year's edition offer a thought-provoking discussion and analysis of the different types of digital skills required in the current and post-pandemic period. They also share key lessons and present concrete examples of digital skills policies, programmes, and initiatives from countries across different regions.

Note to editors: 
The 2021 edition of Digital Skills Insights features eight articles written by international experts, who provide original perspectives on skills needs for the digital future:

 - From connectivism to connectivity: Digital skills in the COVID-19 context (Travis Heneveld)
 - Skill sets required due to the digital transformation (Gedeon Hakizimana)
 - Learning and skills acquisition in a post-pandemic digital future (Emmanuel C. Ogu)
 - Digital skills development for equitable and dignified humanitarian assistance (Matthew Downer)
 - Capacity development for Indigenous communities of the Americas region (Carlos Baca-Feldman and Erick Huerta Velázquez)
 - Tasmu Smart Qatar – Digital skills as a pillar for transformation (Khawar Iqbal and Frederick Van Gysegem)
 - Digital literacy for a digital India (Sumeysh Srivastava)
 - Best practices in distance education learning, Mexican experiences (María Cristina Cárdenas Peralta and Ana Lidia Franzoni Velázquez)

The publication is available on the ITU Academy platform.

- Download the publication.
- For more information, please visit: https://academy.itu.int

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About ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. Established over 150 years ago, ITU is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. For more information, visit www.itu.int