Prince’s Trust warns of ‘digital skills crisis’ as over third of young people lack confidence in securing tech jobs

The Prince’s Trust, in collaboration with Solutions Research and supported by Cognizant, has released a new report highlighting the growing ‘digital skills crisis’ among young people in the UK.

According to the findings, more than a third of young people (37%) are concerned that they lack the digital skills needed to get a good job. In addition, more than two in five (41%) are unsure about what skills they should develop for their future careers.

The report, titled “Decoding the Digital Skills Gap,” reveals how limited knowledge, exposure and access to digital skills training are holding young people back from pursuing relevant careers. This lack of digital confidence is particularly evident among those already disadvantaged, such as those not employed, not educated or trained (NEET) and those with limited internet access.

“This research paints a bleak picture of the growing digital skills crisis, suggesting that young people are not being equipped with the right knowledge, confidence or opportunities to pursue digitally supported jobs or training,” said Lindsay Wright, head of future sectors at the Prince’s Trust. “With the employment landscape rapidly changing around them, we risk excluding young people from our economy and from pursuing their aspirations, while also failing to benefit from all that a fast-growing, technology-led economy has to offer.”

The comprehensive study, which included a nationally representative survey of 2,001 young people aged 16-30 and 20 focus groups across the UK, reveals that 37 per cent of young people are not studying digital or technology subjects after key stage 3. Young people who are not in education, training or apprenticeship are more likely to miss out on relevant studies (43 per cent versus 34 per cent), with many saying these subjects were not offered or discouraged.

Encouragingly, nearly four in five (79 per cent) young people expressed an interest in training or retraining in basic and advanced digital skills.

The government’s Digital Strategy 2022 highlighted that more than 80 per cent of UK job advertisements require digital skills, and the current skills gap is estimated to cost the UK economy up to £63bn a year, rising to £120bn by 2030. Despite this, more than two-thirds (42 per cent) of young people do not see digital skills as essential for their future, with those who are not in employment, uneducated or under-educated being more likely to hold this view (52 per cent versus 38 per cent).

The study also points to a gap between young people and digital careers. When presented with potential future jobs such as robotics engineer, cybersecurity analyst and computer game developer, only 11% felt these professions were suitable for them, despite recognizing their lucrative and creative potential.

Josie Harrison, Research Director at Solutions Research, said: “We found strong evidence that young people need significant support to ensure barriers to their participation in digital skills training and vocational jobs are removed. There is a clear need to raise awareness of the need for digital skills through education about their relevance to different jobs and industries. It is important to bear in mind that young people think about jobs first and foremost, so initiatives must put employment outcomes at the centre.”

“With global economies and the business climate changing at an unprecedented pace in the age of AI, working with The Prince’s Trust enables us to support young people from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds by giving them important opportunities to access skills and learn how to succeed in the workforce of the future,” added Rohit Gupta, Managing Director, UK & Ireland, Cognizant.

Over the past two years, the Prince’s Trust has successfully integrated digital skills modules into programmes such as Achieve, benefiting thousands of young people across the UK. These efforts are crucial as three out of four young people who participate in Prince’s Trust programmes go on to work, education or training.

The Prince’s Trust is calling for collaborative action from employers, educators and government to boost digital skills training and careers guidance. By doing so, the UK can unlock the potential of its young people and ensure they are equipped to succeed in a technology-driven economy.