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European Year of Skills

Plugging the digital skills gap

Digital skills are essential for people to participate in society, work, and achieve social inclusion. They are also crucial for the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness offering more autonomy, skills development and job satisfaction.

People working on computer

In the future, 90% of jobs will require digital skills.

Labour force

More than 1/3 of the EU’s labour force lack the digital skills required in most jobs.

People working on computer

Only 54% of the people in the EU aged 16-74 can perform basic digital tasks.

Woman working with ICT equipment

The EU faces a critical shortage of digital experts including for cybersecurity and data analysis.

Womann working with servers

9.4 million ICT specialists are employed (4.6% total EU employment).

Female computer operator

Less than 20% of ICT specialists and graduates are women.

Money bag illustration

Member States have planned €2 billion in European Social Fund Plus programmes and €23 billion in their Recovery and Resilience plans to support the development of digital skills.

Digital Europe invests €580 million to advance digital skills.

The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the Digital Decade set targets on digital skills by 2030:

At least 80% of people in the EU with basic digital skills

At least 80% of people in the EU with basic digital skills.

20 million ICT specialists employed with better gender equality

20 million ICT specialists employed with better gender equality.