From February to September 2024, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform (DSJP) spearheaded Squad 2024, an online working group aimed at addressing digital skills needs in non-ICT professions. Comprised of 18 experts from across Europe, including Iren Bencze, Martina Bekeová, and CEPIS President Luis Fernandez-Sanz, the group examined challenges and opportunities linked to equipping non-digital sectors with essential digital competencies.
As the EU faces a pressing digital skills gap—only 56% of Europeans aged 16–74 possess basic digital skills—the Squad emphasized the urgency of action to meet Digital Decade goals: 80% digital proficiency by 2030 and a workforce of 20 million ICT professionals. Current trajectories suggest these targets could be missed without intensified efforts, risking economic and technological setbacks.
In its vision paper, Squad 2024 outlined critical issues, including the absence of cohesive frameworks, slow AI adoption, and a growing digital divide, particularly among SMEs and non-digital industries. Recommendations called for adaptable, forward-thinking strategies integrating digital and transversal skills such as adaptability and problem-solving.
The paper also includes literature review, featuring the work of the CEPIS Digital Skills Policy expert group.
The group stressed that digital transformation transcends technology, requiring a cultural shift driven by collaborative efforts across governments, industries, and educational institutions. Investments in lifelong learning and industry-specific training are deemed pivotal to building a resilient, inclusive digital workforce ready for future challenges.
The Squad’s work marks a key step in shaping a sustainable digital economy and ensuring Europe’s workforce can thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
