Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Digital Skills and Careers

16 April 2024 · 8 other contributors · 9,046 words

Opened by Lisa Cameron SNP East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

Responding minister: Luke Hall

EducationEmploymentScience & Technology

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Lisa Cameron raised concerns about digital skills and careers in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about UK's talent shortage in tech roles, with over 2 million vacancies reported between May 2021 and 2022.
  • The International Institute for Management Development ranked the UK 20th out of 64 economies for digital skills last year.
  • Digital skills are not equally accessible, with underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within blockchain industries.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Minister to provide more details on how the Government plans to embed digital skills training throughout all stages of education and attract global talent into tech sectors. I also ask for insights on fostering partnerships between government, educators, and private industry to enhance digital literacy across different demographics.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Lisa Cameron SNP East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

I am concerned about the UK's ability to harness digital opportunities while ensuring that people at all stages of their lives are equipped with necessary digital skills. I highlighted a significant talent shortage in tech roles, noting there were over 2 million vacancies between May 2021 and 2022. The International Institute for Management Development ranked the UK 20th out of 64 economies last year, indicating room for improvement despite progress made. Furthermore, digital skills are not equally accessible or inclusive, particularly concerning underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within blockchain industries.

Other contributors (8)
  • Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd

    Ms Davies-Jones expressed concern about the lack of digital skills among parliamentarians and legislators, especially in relation to cybersecurity issues such as cyber-flashing and sextortion. She emphasised the importance of digital skills and internet access for all, highlighting the need to adapt to technological changes while addressing concerns about being left behind in former mining communities. She called for cross-departmental working across Government departments to ensure a holistic approach to tackling issues related to digitalisation and stressed the need for educating people on how to protect themselves from gendered crimes that utilise technology.

  • Angela Crawley Lab Wansbeck

    She agreed that digital skills should be integrated into the curriculum at all stages of life. She mentioned an anecdote where children were more knowledgeable about the metaverse than MPs or Lords Members, highlighting the need for across-the-lifespan development in digital understanding.

  • Jamie Stone Lib Dem Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

    Mr Stone highlighted the potential of autistic individuals in IT skills but noted they often lack support when leaving school.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon thanked the hon. Lady for securing the debate and emphasised the importance of teaching digital skills to young people, citing a Lloyds Bank study showing that 18% of adults lack essential digital skills.

  • Margaret Greenwood Lab Blackley and Broughton

    Margaret Greenwood highlighted the importance of digital literacy for employment opportunities, citing statistics from the Consumer Digital Index which showed that 13 million people in the UK have very low digital capability. She pointed out that around 7.5 million adults lack essential digital skills needed for work, stressing that this is a form of deprivation that needs to be addressed both for individuals and the economy. Greenwood asked about the Government's efforts to identify which areas of digital jobs will be affected by AI developments in the future. She questioned whether such work is informing current course offerings and ensuring that training investments are not wasted on skills made obsolete by AI advancements.

  • Graham Jones Lab West Preston

    Mr Graham Jones spoke about the impact of digital exclusion on employment opportunities and economic growth. He mentioned the importance of access to affordable internet and highlighted initiatives such as the Good Things Foundation's national databank that provide free mobile SIM cards to help digitally excluded people get connected.

  • Paul Girvan

    Mr Girvan provided an example illustrating that even diesel mechanics need IT skills for modern emissions checks, advocating for a flexible education system that integrates digital skills into all career paths.

  • Seema Malhotra Lab Co-op Feltham and Heston

    She highlighted the importance of digital skills for economic growth and criticised the Government's failure to equip young people and the existing workforce with necessary digital skills. She mentioned that fewer than half of British employers believe young people have the right digital skills, and 46% of businesses struggle to recruit for roles requiring hard data skills. Malhotra also pointed out the need for a national body like Skills England to drive digital skills needs and ensure alignment with local skill improvement plans.

Government Response

Luke Hall

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Caroline. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Dr Cameron) on securing a debate on this vital subject. Digital skills are essential in today's digital age to support economic success and career development for people of all ages. In the UK, we have a world-leading digital economy that needs skilled individuals to maintain its position. The digital skills gap costs the UK £63 billion annually. There is an estimated 9% growth in digital jobs by 2030, with 60% of businesses expecting increased reliance on advanced digital skills. The computing curriculum introduced in 2014 and the National Centre for Computing Education have been key to fostering digital literacy among young people. Over £100 million has been invested in these initiatives, supporting over 13,000 teachers and boosting GCSE and A-level participation in computer science. Digital T-levels are also being rolled out, providing training in software development technician roles. The Government is addressing workforce challenges with additional funding for teacher retention and free digital skills bootcamps targeting diverse learners. Apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications in digital occupations have been introduced to upskill the existing workforce. Institutes of technology collaborate between FE and HE providers to produce high-skilled workers, and £30 million has been allocated to AI conversion courses aimed at underrepresented groups. The minister acknowledged the importance of diversity within digital skills training programmes, noting a 44% increase in female participation in bootcamps. Efforts are ongoing to integrate digital education across all levels, from schools to higher education, ensuring individuals have the necessary skills for future employment.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy