# Creating a skilled workforce fit for the future Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-06-03 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: How to Bridge the Digital Skills Gap for 2030 Workforce Meta Description: Learn how businesses can support the skills gap and ensure a skilled workforce by 2030. Discover why digital skills are essential for future career success. URL: https://financedigest.com/creating-a-skilled-workforce-fit-for-the-futurehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/skilled-workforce-1736838302565-compressed.jpg) _By **Chris Jeffries,** CEO and founder of [Launch Your Career](https://launchyourcareer.com/)_ [A report from the Learning and Work Institute](https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/FINAL%20LGA%202019%20Skills%20Gaps%20report%20final%20December%202019.pdf) predicts that there will be a shortfall of 2.5 million highly skilled workers in 2030, a skills deficit that will cost the country a staggering £120 billion. A large price to pay at a time when Britain’s economy shrank almost 10% last year, its biggest slump in more than 300 years. The pandemic caused whole sectors to close their doors for months on end. And it’s not over yet. At least [250,000 small businesses are expected to fold](https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/at-least-250-000-uk-small-businesses-set-to-fold-without-further-help-new-study-warns.html) this year. In a time of such economic uncertainty, what can [businesses do to support the skills](https://www.financedigest.com/5-essential-leadership-skills-for-family-owned-businesses.html "5 essential leadership skills for family-owned businesses") gap and ensure that our workforce is as skilled as it can be come 2030? **New entrants to the** [world of work](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-world-of-trade-finance-optimize-working-capital-with-distributed-ledgers.html "The Evolving World Of Trade Finance: Optimize Working Capital With Distributed Ledgers") A good place to start is with those entering the workforce. As it currently stands, [less than half of UK employers](https://learningandwork.org.uk/resources/research-and-reports/disconnected-exploring-the-digital-skills-gap/) believe new entrants to the workforce are arriving with the necessary advanced digital skillset. Graduate specific data from the [Institute of Student Employers](https://insights.ise.org.uk/policy/blog-ise-survey-skills-are-students-ready-for-the-covid-workplace/) backs this up, with a quarter of employers unable to find graduates with the programming skills required for their business. These findings may come as a surprise bearing in mind most students grew up with technology and [don’t remember a time](https://www.financedigest.com/over-half-of-financial-smbs-say-they-dont-have-time-to-understand-cybersecurity.html "Over half of Financial SMBs say they don’t have time to understand cybersecurity") without smartphones. However, the term ‘digital skills’ encompasses a huge range of talents, knowledge and expertise. My own company, for instance, needs people who can create video content, design web pages and find their [way around](https://www.financedigest.com/5-time-efficient-ways-to-travel-around-the-philippines.html "5 Time-Efficient Ways to Travel Around the Philippines") complex databases. Other businesses are looking for people with different [digital skill](https://www.financedigest.com/utilising-digital-tools-to-close-the-finance-and-accounting-skills-gap.html "Utilising digital tools to close the finance and accounting skills gap") sets. Employers across all [sectors are crying out for digital](https://www.financedigest.com/maximising-ai-during-digital-transformation-in-the-financial-services-sector.html "Maximising AI during digital transformation in the financial services sector") skills to boost their post-pandemic recovery. **Digital skills** Prior to Covid many students were unsure about what they wanted to do for a living, but the pandemic has heightened this [feeling as teenagers have witnessed many business sectors](https://www.financedigest.com/consumer-durables-sector-still-feeling-the-effects-of-recession.html "Consumer durables sector still feeling the effects of recession") decimated. According to our recent research, 70% of pupils are now unsure of what they want to do with their career and 78% are worried about their career choice. When it comes to a career requiring digital skills, many [young people have told me that it simply](https://www.financedigest.com/digbeth-is-simply-divine-to-young-urbanites-and-investors-alike.html "Digbeth is simply Divine to young urbanites and investors alike") isn’t for them, mostly because they lack awareness of the scope and opportunities available. Some [students imagine life](https://www.financedigest.com/from-ballroom-to-bedroom-21st-century-students-experience-life-upstairs.html "From ballroom to bedroom – 21st century students experience life ‘upstairs’ ") as a computer programmer sitting alone with only a screen for company – and don’t see the appeal. Others assume they will never have the maths [ability or technical dexterity to bring IT skills](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-collaboration-and-skills-shortage-is-limiting-organisations-ability-to-meet-ifrs-9-requirements.html "Lack of collaboration and skills shortage is limiting organisations’ ability to meet IFRS 9 requirements") to the workplace. But these perceptions are inaccurate and outdated. [Businesses must find a way](https://www.financedigest.com/6-ways-how-to-create-great-tiktok-videos-for-your-business.html "6 Ways How to Create Great TikTok Videos For Your Business") to show those starting out at work that there are plenty of roles involving digital ability which match their own strengths, interests and personalities. Yes, the world needs people who are talented in coding and blockchain, but it also needs those who can [put a business on the map through their understanding of search](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-nickel-meltdown-puts-spotlight-on-lmes-search-powers.html "Analysis-Nickel meltdown puts spotlight on LME’s search powers") engine optimisation, and creatives who can build a brand’s reputation on social media. Once they realise they don’t need to be the next Ada Lovelace or Alan Turing, [young people with all sorts of abilities can help the country bridge the digital](https://www.financedigest.com/young-leaders-forum-debating-what-successful-leadership-looks-like-in-the-digital-age.html "Young Leaders Forum, debating what successful leadership looks like in the digital age") skills divide. **Work [experience opens](https://www.financedigest.com/avaya-opens-customer-experience-center-saudi-arabia.html "Avaya Opens Customer Experience Center in Saudi Arabia") up worlds** A key piece of the [digital skills puzzle lies in the hands of businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/be-the-digital-eyes-and-ears-of-your-business-from-anywhere-in-the-world.html "Be the digital eyes and ears of your business – from anywhere in the world!"). Without links to the workplace, how can [young people see](https://www.financedigest.com/jd-sports-sees-bills-free-young-shoppers-boosting-profits.html "JD Sports sees bills-free young shoppers boosting profits") first-hand the skills required at work? The pandemic has reduced opportunities for in-person industrial placements and internships with employers, with [less than a fifth (17%) of students having the opportunity to get involved in work experience](https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/early-careers-survey-2021-work-experience-during-a-crisis) in the last 12 months. However, many [organisations have found creative ways to keep these links strong through approaches such as remote networking](https://www.financedigest.com/6-steps-to-organising-an-introvert-friendly-networking-event.html "6 Steps to organising an introvert-friendly networking event "), virtual internships and careers podcasts. Engaging with [young people](https://www.financedigest.com/banks-need-to-digitise-financial-wellbeing-support-to-help-young-people-manage-through-this-recession.html "Banks need to digitise financial wellbeing support to help young people manage through this recession") early encourages them to recognise the many gifts and abilities they already have, and helps them consider how these can be nurtured for a digitally literate workplace. Equally, hiring managers should look beyond specific skill requirements and focus on potential. **The power of technology** As the world opens up, businesses [must continue to harness the power of technology to reach](https://www.financedigest.com/engine-parts-makers-must-cross-valley-of-death-to-reach-ev-era.html "Engine parts makers must cross ‘valley of death’ to reach EV era") out to students and graduates. New techniques are making their mark in careers education. [Virtual reality is proving to be effective in opening](https://www.financedigest.com/neoma-business-school-opens-the-first-virtual-campus-in-europe.html "NEOMA Business School opens the first virtual campus in Europe") minds to different roles and workplaces. Businesses can show students what it’s like to work for them by creating immersive experiences which allow a [young person](https://www.financedigest.com/to-be-a-young-person-and-own-your-own-home-should-be-a-dream-that-everyone-has-the-right-to-fulfil.html "“To be a young person and own your own home should be a dream that everyone has the right to fulfil.”") to move around a manufacturing plant or visualise different medical career pathways. [Digital expertise is key to driving productivity and accelerating growth in today’s difficult economic](https://www.financedigest.com/how-digital-commerce-merchants-can-weather-the-economic-storm.html "How Digital Commerce Merchants Can Weather the Economic Storm") climate. But this can only be achieved if young people are excited about the career opportunities available, and inspired to [develop the skills](https://www.financedigest.com/what-skills-and-areas-of-knowledge-should-finance-teams-develop-during-2023.html "What Skills and Areas of Knowledge Should Finance Teams Develop During 2023? ") employers need. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---