Australians are poorly prepared for the digital workplace

Australians are poorly prepared for the digital workplace

The digital age is upon us and with it comes new opportunities and challenges in the workplace. However, a recent study by Global Digital Skills Index 2022 Digital Skills Index has found that Australians are unprepared for the digital workplace, lagging behind other countries in terms of their use of technology.

According to the recently released Salesforce Global Digital Skills Index (GDSI), only 26% of Australian workers believe themselves to be extremely prepared for workplace digital skills – a far cry from the 40% of global workers and the 44% of US workers who claimed the same thing in the survey. In terms of digital readiness, the overall global average score was 33 out of 100. This score was based on factors such as preparedness, skill level, access, and active engagement in digital upskilling. Australia's total score is 21 out of a possible score range from 15 to 63, placing it towards the bottom of the list. Other countries' scores range from 15 to 63. Considering that Australia has the highest smartphone penetration of nearly any other country on the planet – and that more than one in every three Australians purchased a new phone just last year - this is a disappointing result.

So what can we do to catch up?

There are a few things we can do to get better prepared for the digital workplace.

Firstly, we need to make sure that all employees have access to the latest technology and are given training on how to use it.

Secondly, we seriously need to consider how courses such as information technology/information systems should be written and offered considering the rapid fast changes that occur in these streams.

Thirdly, Governments both at the state and national levels should focus on funding and training programs to ensure the Australians are ready for the digital workplace

In addition, we need to create a culture that embraces new technology and encourages its use.

Finally, we need to keep up with the latest trends and developments in the digital world so that we can stay ahead of the curve.

If we do these things, we can be sure to stay competitive in the digital age and be well prepared for the challenges and opportunities that come with it.