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Digital technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and automation are really changing the nature of work.
This issue of VDC News focuses on the digital economy and is futures focused. It builds on an article in the last issue summarising a report from Deloittes.
What did they do?
NCVER has recently published a new report that explores the current supply and demand for digital skills for the general Australian workforce and the capacity of the VET system to effectively meet this growing need.
The project involved “a literature review, case studies and surveys, a content analysis of job advertisements and relevant training packages, and a review of international digital skills frameworks.” It concentrated on transport and logistics, public safety and correctional services.
So, what are ‘digital skills’?
The report authored by researchers from RMIT University and Australian Industry Standards defines digitals skill as involving digital knowledge, cognitive and practical knowhow, competence (by which they mean ability to learn, adapt and apply digital knowledge in a new setting) and having a ‘digital attitude’, that is: a set of values and beliefs “which workers need to master and demonstrate in the digital age.”
What did they find?
When they looked job advertisements they found that “only 24 job vacancies across the 1708 jobs analysed specifically mentioned particular digital skills.” When they were mentioned the researchers felt that “the level of expected application is generally vague and mostly basic.” This suggests to them “that employers are not clearly articulating their specific skills needs.”
On the other hand, the eleven training packages analysed found a large number of relevant units of competency. However, closer analysis showed that the majority of the units addressing digital skills tended to be electives not core units, and at lower and more basic levels. So, for the areas the study covered, digital skills were not accorded ‘essential skills status’.
The case studies and survey results, which are reported in support documents, found that employers:
“expressed dissatisfaction with the digital skills of VET graduates and the relevance of VET qualifications to current industry digital skills requirements.”
But, it’s important to note that “the adoption of digital technologies — and the concomitant skills gap — is neither experienced at the same pace in all industries nor influencing all occupations to the same extent.”
So, what’s needed?
The report’s authors argue for a “multi-pronged strategy from government and industry stakeholders” and “requires the development of a national digital skills framework, which could be integrated into the Australian Core Skills Framework.”
This means that:
“The digital skills embedded in VET programs and in industry training packages therefore need to be revised and updated to cater for future digital skills requirements.”
But employers, too, are taking very different approaches. Some are aggressively adopting and developing these skills through external recruitment and internal skills development. Others take a more ‘middle of the road’ approach where they are keen to adopt such technologies, but are more cautious in their skills development approaches – and introduce them through gradual cultural change.
Finally, we have those employers who appreciate the growing need for digital skills, but make no investment in skills development. This group “tended to expect that newly employed recruits possess the necessary digital skills (which were mostly relatively basic digital skills).”
Take a look at another NCVER report too, on the 4th industrial revolution and what that means for VET. VDC News looked at that in November 2018