In a joint blog post, Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for the #DigitalSingleMarket, and Günther H. Oettinger European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, stressed out the importance of having the right skills in the digital age.
As technology is changing almost every aspect of our lives, Europeans need digital skills as a basic requirement to get ahead in society as well as in the modern workplace. It is no longer just about reading or writing skills. Being able to use digital technologies and apply them in the workplace is indeed important for creating a more competitive and growth-oriented Europe. Coding and programming are increasingly seen as great way to get more young people interested in digital careers.
To tackle the digital skills gap, a broader, more inclusive and pan-European effort is required. On June 10, Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, launched the #EUSkillsAgenda - New Skills Agenda for Europe with a solid focus on digital skills and jobs with the planned Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.
Furthermore, Andrus Ansip and Günther H. Oettinger write, the European Commission cannot do this alone, not even by working with national governments. The Coalition will bring together all interested parties from the public and private sectors - national authorities from the EU's 28 countries, education providers, employment services, for example - to develop and expand the pool of European digital talent. It will help to equip people with the right skills – young and old, the employed as well as jobseekers – and to improve their employability.
