The dynamic of our world requires enhanced skills throughout the learning process provided in schools and universities. Considering that technology has evolved, information and communications technology (ICT) competencies are necessary for students, employers, and regular people to function properly in society.
Navigating the digital landscape has become a necessity for everyone to contribute to safe environments, but accessing information and communicating are regular activities in the online ecosystem. That’s why digital literacy is important, because it protects users during their educating process.
Digital literacy knowledge should cover information about online security, digital content, and digital footprint. While these are basic concepts, they should be accompanied by understanding more complex technologies and evaluating their usage and benefits, from artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the ETH price.
In an attempt to achieve these steps, states support programs of digital literacy for children, adults, and seniors, as well as for businesses. One of them is New York, which launched a free digital literacy program for people seeking employment to increase their chances of landing a job and contributing to the local economy.
NY state provides access to digital infrastructure
Recently, the emergence of superior technology was one of the telltale signs that society changed. That’s why NYC became a hub for technology, where companies like Google and Facebook operate and employ talented peers.
Hence, a recent legislature emphasizes the need for high-speed and affordable broadband and the responsibility for the digital divide to end. On the same note, accessible educational resources and advanced workforce goals and initiatives were supported to help organizations build systems that promote digital equity.
Supplementing employment through digital literacy
The New York Department of Labor provided the program through which anyone can develop their computer skills and additional knowledge required by businesses. Surprisingly, most companies in NY state noticed how primary computer use is lacking in employee prospects, such as email skills or working in Excel and Word.
However, these competencies are mandatory for almost any type of industry worker seeking jobs because they’re part of daily tasks. At the same time, jobs that require enhanced digital skills also provide a higher median hourly wage, so employees who master them can benefit from greater salaries.
How much skill is needed to develop a digital mindset?
Unfortunately, the emergence of AI and blockchain costs older peers their jobs, as many have been laid off in the past years due to their lack of digital skills. In the age of digital ecosystems, everyone must know how to market themselves for employers to have a broader employment rate.
Ideally, all potential workers must be up-to-date with the latest technologies. Still, companies and users can follow the 30% rule in acquiring digital literacy skills, meaning being able to participate in online task streamlining safely. This includes discerning accurate information from fake news, understanding what is safe to share online in regard to personal data, and establishing who can be trusted online. This is only the first tier.
On the second tier of digital skills, we distinguish between using social media and streaming services, as well as reading online news and evaluating their accuracy. Finally, advanced skills include having a thorough understanding of phishing scams and malware to be able to avoid them.
But what’s most important is maintaining and developing these skills continuously because online threats can exploit workers’ knowledge gaps in skillful ways.
Digital literacy and the economy
Digital literacy has a massive impact on today’s economy. Besides creating better job opportunities, it can improve business performance since teams are able to make informed decisions about consumer habits and trends through analyzing reliable data.
At the same time, digital literacy means enhanced digital communication, whether it’s via emails, video calls, or messaging. Superior communication among clients and customers is necessary to
understand each other’s needs, and be up-to-date with the latest regulations.
Finally, learning to be digitally literate allows employees to develop. Individuals can evolve through engaging with the world and become wary of their capabilities and gaps, so personal development is beneficial for businesses and employees, too.
Closing the socio-economic gaps
Unfortunately, it may be difficult for all countries and states to reach the same level of digital literacy, considering how contrasting current stats are. Countries like Denmark, the USA, and Sweden are the most competitive in terms of digital literacy, according to Statista. However, the bottom of the list is held by countries like Venezuela, South Africa, and Turkey, areas that are in development and are not provided with proper chances of development.
These differences will always be stringent due to the lack of resources. The competitive advantage is derived from long-term history issues and social challenges, and they can’t be regulated that fast. Hence, it will take some time until worldwide countries will be able to provide similar opportunities for citizens and employees.
Still, what can be done is spreading awareness, whether it’s about technology or not. Sometimes, being open-eyed about possible new technologies and methods that improve life and offer better conditions is enough to start the change. So, while some countries barely have access to the internet, governments can promote awareness.
The talent deficit must be treated in accordance with world conditions, so employers must have different requests depending on the economy. Unemployment rates can be lowered if companies are more wary of their necessities instead of aiming for non-realistic aspirations. At the same time, talented peers should be offered training on-site, so teaching employees how to become more digitally literate, even if it’s only a basic trainee program, can impact businesses considerably.
What do you think about the need for digital literacy?
As the world changes and technology develops, we see how being digitally literate dictates people’s chances of getting a job or integrating into society. Having digital skills is currently most countries’ urgent goal to achieve because it can change the business dynamic and help societies. New York state is one of those that support people’s access to the internet and knowledge in order to create more employment chances and mitigate discontinuities between employees and companies.
