Polish people facing digital competencies

Polish people, like citizens of many other countries, are facing the challenges of increasing digitization. Technological changes, shaping many areas of our lives, require people to constantly adapt to new conditions. There is stress caused by uncertainty about the future, which in such a dynamically changing world is more difficult than ever to estimate. However, it is important to be aware that the digital revolution is an inevitable phenomenon that will affect practically all areas of everyone’s life.

In the face of progress, society must be aware and ready not only to adapt but also to effectively participate in shaping the new reality. So it is worth to invest in developing new digital competencies and promoting education that supports learning practical skills.

Digital competencies of the Polish people

In March 2022, Eurostat published the results of the survey on the digital competencies of European Union citizens between the ages of 16-74. At least basic digital competencies were possessed by only 54% of respondents, and they included:

• The ability to use information and data,
• The ability to communicate and collaborate,
• The ability to create digital content,
• Security skills,
• Problem-solving skills.

Poland achieved a score of 43%, which makes us one of the less educated countries in the studied area compared to the entire European Union. We are followed only by Bulgaria (31%) and Romania (28%). In contrast, the highest rate was recorded in Finland and the Netherlands, both of which scored 79%. Ireland came in third, with a score of 70%.

Moreover, as we can read in the 2021 report published by Digital Poland Technology in the Service of Society. Will Polish people become a 5.0 society?, on the one hand 59% of Polish people do not know what digital skills they need to acquire, while on the other hand as many as 65% are aware of the need to requalify in the nearest future. This means that the problem is not a lack of willingness to learn, but insufficient education in this area.

Key competencies of the future

The World Economic Forum, in its report, The Future of Jobs Report 2023, identified key skills gaining importance for employers in the future. They include:

1. Analytical thinking;
2. Creative thinking;
3. Resilience and flexibility;
4. Motivation and self-awareness;
5. Curiosity and lifelong learning;
6. Dependability and attention to detail;
7. Technological skills.

All the mentioned skills reflect the dynamic changes taking place in today’s labor market. Their development will allow us to function more effectively in the era of digitization, in many areas of daily life. Interestingly, despite such technological advances, hard skills, such as the operation of modern devices and systems, or the use of artificial intelligence, are just as important as soft competencies, relating to creative thinking, organizational flexibility, or intrinsic motivation and willingness to progress. This means that the employee of the future should have both theoretical knowledge and the ability to use it with maximum utility. It is crucial to change the approach to problem-solving, while maintaining adaptability to change and critical thinking. People who can integrate these two spheres of competencies are better prepared to achieve success in the modern, demanding labor market.

In summary, the development of new technologies, artificial intelligence and process automation present key challenges and opportunities for both employees and employers. Success in the era of digitization requires a comprehensive approach to competence development, where both technological aspects and those related to personal and social development are equally important. This will allow the smooth operation of many organizations, and flexibility will enable them to keep up with the coming changes. It is therefore important to invest in continuous development, and to promote education that supports the acquisition of practical skills. Only through informed and effective social engagement, it is possible to effectively realize the potential that digitization brings while minimizing the concerns associated with it.