Submitted by Fiona.Fanning on Tue, 2012-06-19 10:09

For an economically inclusive Europe, everyone entering the labour market needs to have the right digital skills to be able to function and thrive in day-to-day working life. As ICT becomes transversal in all areas of future jobs, it is dangerous to assume that all young people today who are referred to as ‘digital natives’ are automatically skilled enough to engage in the workforce. Just because a person is in the under 25 age group in Europe does not mean that innately l fit easily into the labour market, which more than likely will require a broad range of defined ICT skills in the future! At a high level European Round Table organised by ECDL Foundation in the European Parliament, several Member State high level representatives expressed their frustration at this assumption that all young people are digital natives, and expressed concern about this possible new ‘digital divide’. High levels of confidence in using ICT doesn't equate a high level of digital skills for employability!

Group audience:

Jobs and skills

Comments

Hi Fiona

Submitted by ian_cli on Tue, 2012-06-19 15:09

Hi Fiona
as I'm sure you would expect, i'll respond by saying that this is exactly why we developed Skillage(www.skillage.eu). Its to self-assess and get young people thinking about the ICT skills they may need to enter the job market and be effective in their jobs in our ever changing technology dominated workplace. We absolutely agree that there needs to be continued focus on the need to increase the skills of 'digital natives', and an awareness of the ICT skills they need for current employment market.

Thanks Fiona for this

Submitted by stylianosm on Wed, 2012-06-20 14:19

Thanks Fiona for this valuable point.
I too believe that no skills can be taken for self-evident. Every skill or competence has to be proved and/or certified and especially for added employability value. Not every Facebook user is skilled in using social media efficiently for his/her job.
Plus life-long skills enhancement is a must, not a plus.
It comes also down what an e-skills taxonomy or e-competences framework can or should contain. Such a framework along with a mosaic of job-profiles can guide people to craft dynamic career paths, don't you agree?