Linkedin: Digital Skills is Increasingly in Demand in Asia and the Pacific

Digital skills are increasingly in demand in Asia and the Pacific with up to a 75% increase in value.  Employers in four countries reported an increased demand for new employees with digital skills over the past 5 years, reports from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and LinkedIn.

 Published yesterday, the study Digital Jobs and Digital Skills: A Shifting Landscape in Asia and the Pacific highlights how digital literacy is now becoming important.  Not only that, individuals who have higher digital skills are considered to get greater benefits.

“As digital skills and qualifications become increasingly prominent, we must ensure that the education system helps narrow the digital divide for disadvantaged or marginalized communities,” said Director General of ADB's Department for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Bruno Carrasco.  07/10/2022).

Based on research, most recruiters in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and the Philippines consider digital skills such as basic internet skills for commerce and job skills to be important.

Employers surveyed required that 8 of the last 10 candidates hired in the past year had at least basic digital knowledge and skills, and that 4 of the last 10 employees had advanced digital skills.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is driving drastic changes in the way people work. Digital transformation is driving demand for digital jobs and digital skills - and we know this will continue," said LinkedIn Vice President Dave Woodward.

According to him, it is very important for companies to adopt a skills-based approach in recruiting and developing talent.  Workers need to cultivate an adaptive mindset and apply a “lifelong learning” mindset.  This he emphasizes to create opportunities for every workforce around the world.

The study also found an increasing demand for a skilled workforce to help companies accelerate their digital transformation during the pandemic.

Eighty-nine percent of survey respondents agree that digital qualifications will become an important part of higher education.

Meanwhile, ADB is partnering with developing countries in Asia and the Pacific to improve the quality of technical training institutions and skills development programs.  This is because the company aims to expand its education operations from 5% current investment to around 10% by 2024.