MPs warn of looming UK digital skills crisis
MPs have called for urgent action to be taken to avert a digital skills crisis in the UK amidst concern that a lack of basic skills amongst 12.6 million adults is placing future productivity and competitiveness at risk.
Politicians are calling for education and training to be targeted at combating ‘digital exclusion’ with an estimated 5.8 million people still never having used the internet and an additional 745,000 workers with digital skills likely to be needed by 2017.
Commenting on the issue the Commons Science and Technology Committee said: “Digital exclusion has no place in 21st Century Britain.
"While the government is to be commended for the actions taken so far... stubborn digital exclusion and systemic problems with digital education and training need to be addressed as a matter of urgency in the government's forthcoming digital strategy.”
Acknowledging the problem the government is set to publish its digital strategy shortly, which is set to outline measures aimed at boosting uptake of digital skills amongst employers and individuals.