The shortage of digital skills in the current marketplace is unprecedented. The impact of digital technologies is now felt not only in the IT department, but across the entire organization, creating a huge demand for digital skills.
According to a Gartner study, 30% of tech jobs will be unfilled owing to digital talent shortfalls. According to recent BCG research, even today, the biggest perceived technology challenge is not data security or the need to invest but a lack of qualified employees. Digitally talented people are already so highly in demand that many large, traditional companies must reinvent themselves to attract them.
Companies should respond to this challenge by building new pools of skilled digital employees. To do so, they must understand who these potential employees are, where they can be found, and how they can be attracted and retained. Companies also need to know what kinds of talent can be nurtured within the existing employee base; digital talent must come not only from the acquisition of new personnel for specific jobs but also from the development of digital skills in existing roles.
The proliferation of digital tools and technologies across functions means that the business worker has to learn sufficient technical skills. At the same time, the technical engineer should be ready to speak the business language in order to be in sync with their marketing and product counterparts. In the long-term, the need is for an evolved professional who is equally comfortable with business and technology.
There is Demand for New Types of Technical Skills There is a growing usage of Big Data analytics, social media platforms and mobile devices. This, is turn, is forcing employees to acquire skills in these areas. Like mobile and analytics, social media skills is another skill area that is in demand. These social media skills encompass soft skills such as building a brand, community participation, virtual facilitation, online etiquette and front-end engagement skills such as social media outreach, community management, customer service and public relations
