Digital gap: 42% of EU citizens lack basic digital skills

In 2019, nearly half of the EU population (42 percent) was unable to perform basic tasks such as connect to the wi-fi network or use websites, according to a new report published by the European Commission on Thursday (11 June).

However, the EU estimates that nine-out-of-10 future jobs will require digital skills.

The situation is improving only slowly, since 46 percent of the EU's population were lacking basic digital skills in 2015.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its related lockdown restrictions have shown how digital skills were particularly important to staff in the healthcare system, public servants, students and teachers - but also for all of those who suddenly were forced to telework and use new online tools daily.

"The coronavirus crisis has demonstrated how crucial it is for citizens and businesses to be connected and to be able to interact with each other online," the commission vice-president, Margrethe Vestager said, adding that the EU will work on finding the areas where investment is more needed to close the digital gap.

There are notable differences among member states and demographic groups.

The Netherlands and Finland are the frontrunners of digital skills in the EU, while Bulgaria and Romania are lagging.

Likewise, the report indicates that the majority of young people (82 percent) between 16 and 24-years old have at least basic digital skills, while only one-third of those aged 55-74, and those who are retired, possess these skills.

Meanwhile, there remains a shortage of IT specialists on the labour market in the EU - where the so-called 'value-added' of this sector was €680bn in 2017.

During 2018, over half of the enterprises that recruited or tried to recruit IT specialists reported difficulties in filling such vacancies, especially in Romania and the Czech Republic.

Experts estimate that the 'digital skills gap' amounts to one million missing IT professionals in Europe.

The share of IT specialists is slowly improving across the bloc. In 2018, about 9.1m people worked as IT specialists in the EU - with the highest number of employees being in the UK, Germany and France.

Women

Additionally, the commission's new report also reveals that only one-in-six ICT specialists are female.

The European Institute for Gender Equality previously said that redressing the gender imbalance in the IT sector would reduce "the persistent gender-based pay gap across the EU" since women could access more highly-paid jobs than those in traditionally female sectors.

EU ministers for employment on Monday (8 June) urged the commission to reinforce and update its 'Skills Agenda for Europe' to support member states to increase upskilling and reskilling opportunities, with a focus on digital skills.