This article was penned by Carm Cachia, the Chief Administrator at the eSkills Malta Foundation

Digital skills and their availability to the population are key to effectively bringing about digital transformation on a political, economic and social level, on a national as well as on a wider scale.

The digitisation of our country is one of the most important drivers behind the profound transformation of the labour market and the economy it supports. A good level of digital skills and education for any country's population is crucial to achieving a level of success in its digital transformation and, therefore and more importantly, must be embraced.

But the acquisition of digital skills should be inclusive and a life-long learning process provided to everyone of all ages, irrespective of any culture or gender, throughout the complete phases of a person's life – from childhood, student life, youth, working adults, unemployed, up to senior citizens. Considerable extra efforts are encouraged for the outreach to minority and disadvantaged target groups.

Complete digital skills education and training is difficult to acquire but linking its provision in phases of a person's life does help. In the end, it's all connected. A digitally skilled student will become an excellent employee who will, in turn, become a digitally savvy adult. It is well accepted nowadays that EU employers indicate that 90 per cent of their employees must possess at least basic digital skills. In plain English, nowadays, digital skills and literacy are as important as mathematics and English.

Over 99 per cent of the enterprises in Malta are SMEs. Additionally, they employ over 73 per cent of the island’s employees. But considering the categories' criteria in the number of employees (that micro-companies employ less than 10 persons, small companies employ less than 50, and medium companies employ less than 250) then, it is very understandable that SMEs play a very important role in the local economy. SMEs play a key role in every economy because they provide an employment platform continuously developing their resources. Additionally, they can provide specific innovations that the larger enterprises sometimes write off. Nevertheless, their business and digital transformation are crucial for their development and survival.

The future of work in Malta is no different than in any other country. Digital technology penetrates every sector and field of working or private life. It is a no-brainer to realise the importance of having basic and advanced digital skills. The digital transformation that has been happening for quite some time has also transformed education and training. Digital skills in Malta are a requirement in a high percentage of jobs (in Europe, the prediction is 90 per cent). Technology is here to stay! In the future, those persons who will excel in their careers will be those who are savvy in using digital tools, and this is not just a word processor or spreadsheet. Data analysis and mining tools, content management tools, Internet of Things devices, and Artificial Intelligence will also be crucial competence requirements. Soft skills, social skills, problem-solving and analytical skills will also be part of the equation.

This lack of skills is a problem for most industry social partners in Malta and Europe. I would say that workplace learning is a key part of the solution to the skills-related issues that the industry faces. Getting workplace learning right will ensure quality and success in every job role, and enable a business to succeed in the marketplace in Malta and abroad.

But workplace learning is part of the equation. Providing adequate learning opportunities through education and training to children and youth is the other crucial part of developing the right competent workforce for the future.

Funding resources are also important for workplace learning. The government already provides considerable support for training, either through funding instruments or initiatives organised by its various entities. But employers need to play their part too. Allocating time during working hours for workplace learning is crucial, which can be eased with learning by taking subscriptions to online digital platforms.

Following a Training (Learning) Needs Analysis, I would say that companies should have internal plans and schemes for the training of employees, which may coincide with existing funding for training. The schemes would cover the basic skills and competencies needed in every role and specialised job roles.

The eSkills Malta Foundation plays its part by contributing to digital skills policies through its advice, various studies, and awareness campaigns. It also provides several opportunities for digital upskilling and re-skilling, covering various target groups. Examples include Digital Skills Bootcamps, teacher and student career sessions, Robotics in Skolasajf for kids, and EU Codeweek.

More information about eSkills Malta Foundation is available at www.eskills.org.mt.