Disparities in Digital Skills Across the European Labour Market

Without digital skills, it is almost impossible to maintain competitiveness in the job market, as digital literacy reduces the risk of digital exclusion. Developing these skills supports economic growth, employment, and prepares the workforce for the challenges of the future. The aim of the paper is to explore and evaluate disparities in digital skill levels among employees, the unemployed, and students within the EU Member States, focusing on competence areas, namely Information and Data Literacy, Communication and Collaboration Skills, Digital Content Creation Skills, Safety Skills, and Problem Solving Skills. The results of the conducted research highlight disparities in digital skills among EU Member States and an uneven approach to developing individual competencies. While some areas, such as Problem Solving Skills or Information and Data Literacy, show smaller differences, others, particularly Safety Skills and Digital Content Creation Skills, require intensive attention at both national and European strategy levels. Students achieve the highest levels of digital skills across all competence areas, followed by employed individuals, while the unemployed constitute the weakest and most vulnerable group in terms of digital readiness. To overcome these disparities and prepare the workforce for a digital future, effective education systems and retraining programs will be essential, alongside national digital strategies.