America Is Not Preparing Gen Z for Work: Tech Skills Gap
Many new digital tools have invaded the workplace lately, and while it may be something as futuristic as flying cars or self-lacing shoes (as in Back to the Future‘s 2015 account), there are still some newfangled inventions that have been implemented. As remote work took the nation by storm during the early pandemic, digital tools like Zoom and Teams became more widely used. And with investments in artificial intelligence, the world of AI is also invading the workforce as automated programs like ChatGPT gain momentum.
Invested less than in weird AI portraits or automated messaging systems telling you everything is subjective: Gen Zers. As organizations rapidly transform to become more digitized and automated, the youngest working generation is not being adequately trained to deal with this new reality.
According to an international survey of more than 15,000 adults ages 18-26 in 15 countries by Dell Technologies, more than a third (37%) of Gen Zers feel their schooling did not prepare them for the digital skills they need they need for career advancement. A majority (56%) of this generation added that they received very basic to no digital skills training.
All of this has led to some legitimate skepticism about the future of work: many Gen Zers are unsure of what the digital economy will look like, and 33% have little to no confidence that government investments in a digital future in 10 years to be successful. 44 percent believe schools and businesses should work together to close the digital skills gap.
Gen Z’s skills gap could be the reason why they feel “technically ashamed” at work
The findings support previous research that found nearly half of the Class of 2022 felt the most important skill they were underprepared for was technical skills.
It may come as a surprise considering Gen Z are digital natives. This means they are often seen as the most tech-savvy in the workplace and given the task of explaining new tools to their peers, which weighs on Gen Z. According to an HP survey, up to 1 in 5 young workers feel condemned because of technical issues, while only 1 in 25 of their older colleagues feel the same way. These tech snafus have instilled a sense of “tech shame” in the generation, which sometimes discourages them from attending meetings.
What little training is provided is not shared fairly. “There is a glaring divide in the accessibility and use of technical education resources between low-income and affluent students — a divide that has been widened by the pandemic,” wrote Rose Stuckey Kirk, chief corporate social responsibility officer for wealth. “And we know that gap is more than an issue of academic or social justice.”
This is a testament to the wide skills gap that currently exists in the workforce. The problem for Gen Z is that digital communication skills are the most in demand. But a large proportion of them take it upon themselves to learn more; 36% plan to learn digital skills to get a new job or keep their job, finds Dell.
Given that many companies don’t have the resources to fill the skills gap, Gen Zers who teach themselves digital skills will likely have an advantage when looking for a job over those who don’t.
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