The Download: Closing the digital skills gap

In this edition of ‘The Download’: the persistent digital skills gap that threatens Europe’s future as a digital powerhouse, as well as our economic and physical security. Over 60% of EU enterprises struggle to fill ICT specialist roles. This slows the adoption of AI, big data, and cloud, and will put Europe further behind in the global technology race. 

Our manifesto sets ambitious targets by 2030 to train at least 300,000 cybersecurity specialists and boost digital literacy amongst citizens and businesses to 90% of the population. Advanced skills policy should be focused on those critical technologies that will guarantee our economic security, like AI, advanced semiconductors, biotech, and quantum. 

Europe has a strong academic foundation, but achieving these goals will demand unprecedented public-private cooperation, a coherent plan at the EU level supported by data, and a boldness to change the way we teach our children and students.  

Labour mobility will be key. We propose a Digital Skills Passport to bring together all types of qualifications in a single interoperable format. Referring to Mr. Letta’s Single Market report,2 we believe freedom to move and stay in the EU are complementary if we can keep up with opportunities offered by digitalisation and the possibilities of remote work.