By Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has pledged to ensure that Scotland is on the cutting edge of the digital revolution, as the party launches its consultation paper on technology.
The party has warned that businesses and public services are currently being hindered by Scotland’s outdated skills system.
Despite technology becoming an increasingly prominent part of our economy, businesses are finding that the workforce is now less well-equipped with digital skills than it was.
However, between 2014 and 2021 the proportion of businesses who say their staff are equipped to meet their digital technology needs has plummeted from 37 per cent to just 21 per cent.
Meanwhile, the number of employers struggling to hire staff with appropriate digital skills has soared.
The most recent employer skills survey showed that in 2022 more than 11,000 employers with skills shortage vacancies struggled to find an applicant with digital skills – more than three times more than in 2020, when 3,300 employers raised this concern.
Similarly, 6,400 employers reported struggling to find an applicant with advanced IT skills compared to 1,700 in 2020 – an almost fourfold increase.
Today Scottish Labour has published a consultation document to underpin its plans to make Scotland a “technological superpower”.
It will look at:
- Growing Scotland’s technology ecosystem
- Addressing digital exclusion in Scotland
- Driving uptake of technology across the economy
- Digital education and skills development
- Transforming public services and public administration through technology.
“Technology can transform our economy, boost growth and modernise our public services, but we need leadership from government to make that a reality.
“We need a skills system fit for the future that equips our workforce with the cutting edge digital skills businesses and public services need.
“We need to improve digital skills across the board, and in particular ensure we have the advanced specialist skills needed to make the most of the opportunities in front of us.
“Scottish Labour will overhaul Scotland’s skills system and work in partnership with businesses to unlock Scotland’s vast potential for technological advancement.”
Scottish Labour’s Technology Consultation
https://www.gov.scot/publications/digital-economy-business-survey-2021/pages/8/
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Table 15: Technical / practical skills found difficult to obtain from applicants in occupations followed up (prompted) (all skill-shortage vacancy base) – 2020-2022 |
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Base population: All establishments with skill-shortage vacancies (2020: 153; 2022: 727) |
|
|
2020 |
2022 |
|
Computer literacy / basic IT skills |
2,800 |
7,700 |
|
Advanced or specialist IT skills |
1,700 |
6,400 |
|
Digital skills |
3,300 |
11,000 |
https://www.gov.scot/publications/uk-employer-skills-survey-2022-scotland-report/documents/