​​The modern world thrives on digital literacy, and it shapes reality as we know it today. From socialising and entertainment to healthcare and fintech, it’s inseparable from our everyday lives, and yet, even as gen Z (the first generation of digital natives) enter the workforce, an alarming skills gap still represents a barrier to inclusion and opportunity.

UKTN reported that 81% of UK bosses say that a digital skills gap is actively hurting their business – how exactly is this gap defined, and what’s causing it in the first place?

What Does it All Mean?

A digital skills gap occurs when the demand for digitally competent talent outweighs the supply. Simply put, there’s not enough skilled workers.

It’s not just the high-level positions (like the senior software engineer jobs for example) calling out for talent, it’s an issue that permeates every aspect of today’s workplace.

Be it the means of internal communication, the systems used to store data, or the hybrid working models taking the landscape by force, digital skills, even in the most basic sense, are a necessity.

A Lack of Training

As the tools that enable digital literacy to flourish improve, greater training opportunities need to be provided, but unfortunately, a lack of training is a prime contributor for gap in the first place.

For example, big data analytics are quickly becoming a staple of businesses everywhere, and organisations that fail to account for its limitless benefits will likely struggle to prepare themselves for the future.

Emerging Tech

It’s not big data analytics that have found themselves alone at the forefront of innovation either – it’s a wealth of leading-edge tech that seems to be evolving by the second.

Whether it’s the latest healthtech, blockchain-enabled fintech solutions, or even quantum computing, emerging tech is more advanced than ever, and learning how to utilise it on a larger scale means upskilling the workforce.

Accessibility

Tech and education are both incredibly expensive, and represent a much wider issue in modern society: the despairingly wide wealth inequality.

Digital exclusion disproportionately affects those from a lower socio-economic background for this very reason.

Alongside helping to close the digital skills gap, learning initiatives are essential in ensuring that nobody is left behind as a result of their circumstances.

According to VentureBeat, only 3% of the internet is accessible to people with disabilities. Corporate responsibility has a part to play in breaking down this barrier and enabling access to the internet’s immense number of resources.

Recruitment

In a candidate-driven, talent-short market, job seekers are (in many cases) spoilt for choice. This raises demand even further, illuminating the scale of the gap between top digital talent, and those who lack advanced skills in the space.

At Trust in SODA, we have a wealth of recruitment experience in the digital and tech space, and we know that weathering the storm of a global talent shortage means knowing where to look for the right candidate.

Our expansive network of exclusive talent, piloted by our specialised, passionate recruitment consultants, enable us to deliver you a hiring solution that fits your unique needs as a business.

Whether you’re in the market to bolster your ranks with a brand-new C-suite level software extraordinaire, or you’re on the lookout for a job of your own, we can use our DEIB-led methodology to match you with the ideal opportunity. Get in touch with our friendly team today, we’d love to help you on your hiring journey.

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