“Education is a pillar of social rights”
That said Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. On Thursday he was a guest at an online event entitled “Further Education – Digitization, Trends and Resources”, which was organized by the Chamber of Labor (AK) and the Vienna Employee Promotion Fund (waff).
Today, more than ever before, that was the tenor, education is linked to digital skills, because these have become indispensable in the world of work. They are now required in almost all professions, from technical know-how to the competent use of digital media. However, the range of further training opportunities in this area is still insufficient. So how can digital education be promoted and who is responsible for it? The KURIER asked Economics and Digitization Minister Margarete Schramböck about this.
KURIER: What are basic digital skills that every employee should have?
Margarete Schramboeck: Digital competence means using digital media competently, dealing with data consciously and responsibly and being able to critically evaluate information. Which skills will be in demand in the future depends on which technologies are used in the company.
In which professional groups will these be particularly needed?
The future increasing importance of “digital skills” affects all professional groups and we know from surveys that companies will in future have a very high need for general and special IT knowledge, such as software development, online sales, social media, CAD (note. : Computer-Aided Design), and CNC (Note: Computerized Numerical Control).
The labor market of the future: Which skills will be essential, regardless of the profession?
The labor market is subject to major changes. In any case, digital skills and social skills will be relevant in every job. Personal skills such as flexibility, willingness to learn, openness to technological innovations, innovation orientation, creativity and willingness to take responsibility are also important in order to prevent knowledge already acquired from becoming outdated. Companies are also specifically looking for interactive and analytical skills to react quickly to problems and new situations. “Social skills” such as teamwork, communication skills, customer and service orientation are becoming increasingly relevant. The internal further qualification of employees must have the goal that all employees can participate in the digitally shaped working world or actively help to shape it.
You mentioned further training within the company – how can the practical implementation look like?
Appropriate qualifications and digital skills on the part of company employees form the basis for digital change. It is important that we do not leave anyone behind. In doing so, we rely on two main tracks, namely the qualification offensive and the digital skills checks. In this way, we promote the holistic development and expansion of digital skills. At the same time, companies must also independently develop digital skills among their staff. With the qualification offensive, the Ministry of Economic Affairs supports small and medium-sized companies in particular.
So, in your opinion, is it part of the job for companies to invest in the further training of their employees?
In any case. It is essential that companies promote their employees in the digital context and that we support them in times of digital transformation. Austrian companies must build up the appropriate digital skills in order to be able to take the next steps towards digitization. Companies with well-trained staff who can respond quickly to the growing demand for digital services and develop innovative solutions are better able to cope with the current situation.
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