Prince’s Trust warns of ‘digital skills crisis’ as more than a third of young people lack confidence in securing jobs in tech sector

The Prince’s Trust, in partnership with Solutions Research and supported by Cognizant, has released a new report highlighting a growing ‘digital skills crisis’ among British young people.

According to the findings, more than a third (37 percent) of young people are concerned that they do not have the digital skills needed to get a good job. Furthermore, more than two in five (41 percent) feel unsure about what skills they need to develop for their future career.

The report, titled Decoding The Digital Skills Gap, shows how limited knowledge, exposure and access to digital skills training are holding young people back from pursuing relevant careers. This lack of digital trust is particularly pronounced among those who are already disadvantaged, such as those not in employment, education or training (NEETs) and those with limited internet access.

Lindsey Wright, Head of Future Sectors at The Prince’s Trust, commented: “This research paints a bleak picture of a growing digital skills crisis, suggesting that young people are not being equipped with the right knowledge, confidence or the opportunities to pursue digitally enabled jobs or training. With the employment landscape around them rapidly changing, we risk excluding young people from our economy and pursuing their ambitions, while also failing to take advantage of all that a fast-growing, tech-led economy has to offer. ”

The extensive research, which consisted of a nationally representative survey of 2,001 young people aged 16 to 30 and 20 focus groups across the UK, shows that 37 percent of young people are not studying digital or technical subjects beyond Key Stage 3. NEET young people are more likely to miss out on relevant research (43 percent versus 34 percent), with many reporting that these topics are not offered or not encouraged.

Encouragingly, almost four in five (79 percent) young people showed an interest in training or retraining in both basic and advanced digital skills.

The government’s 2022 Digital Strategy highlights that more than 80 percent of UK job vacancies require digital skills. The current skills gap is estimated to cost the UK economy £63 billion a year, potentially rising to £120 billion by 2030. A fifth (42 percent) of young people do not see digital skills as essential to their future, while NEET individuals are more likely to this opinion (52 percent versus 38 percent).

The research also shows that there is a gap between young people and digital careers. When presented with potential future roles such as Robotics Engineer, Cyber ​​Security Analyst and Computer Games Developer, only 11 percent felt these careers were right for them, despite recognizing their lucrative and creative potential.

Josie Harrison, research director at Solutions Research, highlighted: “We have found strong evidence that young people need significant support to ensure barriers to entry into digital skills training and careers are removed. There is a clear need to raise awareness of the need for digital skills by educating on how relevant they are to different jobs and industries. It is vital to keep in mind that young people think first and foremost about jobs, so initiatives must put employment outcomes front and center.”

Rohit Gupta, Managing Director UK&I at Cognizant, added: “As global economies and employment landscapes change at an unprecedented pace in the age of AI, the partnership with The Prince’s Trust allows us to support young people from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds by to offer them important opportunities. to access skills and teach them how to succeed in the workforce of the future.”

Over the past two years, The Prince’s Trust has successfully integrated digital skills modules into programs such as Achieve, benefiting thousands of young people across the UK. These efforts are crucial as three in four young participants in Prince’s Trust programs transition into work, education or training.

The Prince’s Trust is calling for joint action from employers, teachers and government to improve digital skills training and career guidance. By doing this, Britain can unleash the potential of its young people and ensure they are well-equipped to thrive in a technology-driven economy.