The digital skills market is in crisis: the demand exceeds the supply. The rapid technological advancements and digitization of the workplace make it harder for workers to match their skills with the needs of employers.
In the higher education sector, there is a need for more digitally savvy and employable graduates. 71% of recruiters say that sourcing candidates with enough practical experience is their biggest challenge when recruiting from universities.
What does the digital skills shortage in the workplace mean for educators? How can they help create digitally savvy graduates and valuable assets for employers?
Revisit Learning Programs
Employable graduates are created by creating and offering programs including emerging digital skills and softer skills like problem-solving, communication, and soft skills. The growth of the continuing-education market has led to many professionals seeking flexible, accessible courses in areas like digital strategy and SEO.
Teachers who want to meet the demand for digital skills should revisit their programs. This is especially true for courses requiring digital elements, such as marketing and sales. Digital has changed the way these two professions work. New technologies have created new ways of engaging with customers, influencing them, and growing revenue. A third of key decision-makers think that marketing is primarily responsible for growth strategies and payment. This creates a demand for marketers who have digital experience.
After conducting an audit, you can look for ways to include a digital component to a degree or offer specialist certifications to boost a training or continuing education portfolio.
Rethink the professional training approach
Recent graduates and young professionals who possess niche talents in high demand by employers, such as AI, analytics, and SEO, can benefit from the rise of competency-based corporate hiring.
This new approach to hiring takes into consideration practical experience, such as working during a degree or apprenticeship program. The recent hiring approach also brings a bird’s-eye view of candidates’ abilities beyond qualifications. These include problem-solving skills, communication, and critical thinking – which are crucial for a progressive workforce.
This shift in employer expectations requires changing how students are taught. To ensure that graduates understand how digital technology works and its potential impact on businesses, it is essential to integrate this knowledge into learning programs. Certification is an excellent way to achieve this. It can increase the value of your education and provide the skills graduates and job seekers need.
A digital expert can help you create a new curriculum, tap into well-known programs in the corporate and education sectors, and enhance your CV.
Other Credentials
Pew Research Center says that while traditional college degrees will still be relevant in 2026, more employers will accept alternative credentials as self-directed education options become more sophisticated and their measures get more sophisticated.
Experts say that despite common concerns and skepticism about robots, automation, and artificial intelligence, which can perform more tasks and disrupt the job market. They will implement a broader range of educational and skill-building programs to meet these new demands.
The digital world is changing, and humans are growing with it. New roles will continue to emerge, meaning many people will need to learn as they go or their role changes, rendering traditional credentials almost obsolete in certain areas.
Many employers use the competency-based hiring model, which will benefit from adding alternative credentials like certifications. This shows that not only do candidates have valuable skill sets, but they are also willing to learn on their own.
Prioritize Employability
Only a third of students think they’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the job market (34%) and the workplace (36%). Only half (53%) are confident their major will lead them to a great job. This is a large number of students who are concerned about their employment after graduation.
The market has become increasingly competitive, and graduates need more than just a degree today. Employers are looking for candidates with relevant skills and real-life experiences that can be immediately applied to a job, along with the ability to learn and upgrade their skills on the fly.
Higher education institutions must now play a more significant role in the career of their students to meet these new demands. This can be achieved through:
Career centers
Open days
Speakers (e.g., Recruiters or senior executives (relevant)
Apprenticeship programs
Graduate Fairs
Use VR or other technology to create realistic scenarios in the workplace
Workshops on CVs and Interviews
Take a more active part in career development. This will benefit students and establish an institution’s progressiveness and ability to adapt to the changing job market.
The skills shortage is not easy to solve, but the correct type of education will help create digitally savvy graduates.
Right now, educators have an excellent opportunity to reach a whole new group of students, establish themselves as leaders in learning, and offer the skills people need.
These four strategies can help combat the digital skills gap, increase enrollments, and generate revenue.