According to a Hays survey, as many as 69% of specialists believe that young workers lack the right skills for the labor market. These gaps stem from inadequate education as well as difficulties in finding valuable information about career development. They are particularly visible in IT and digitalization, but also in universal soft skills. In response to recruitment difficulties, employers are increasingly taking on part of the responsibility for preparing young people for work in their profession.

According to the "Digital Talent: Road to 2025" report by Gartner, by 2025 as many as 75% of organizations expect that digital skills gaps will be a serious problem for their business. The "Future Talent 2021" report prepared by Deloitte indicates that 70% of employers believe that young people entering the labor market are not sufficiently prepared for the demands of future jobs. The PwC "Global CEO Survey 2022" report indicates that 81% of business leaders in Poland will focus on shaping and improving employee skills in the coming years.

The role of employers in developing talent

Employers must focus on building and implementing effective development programs that will enable younger employees to develop their skills and help attract new talent. It is also important for companies to invest in digital technologies that will enable employees to gain IT and digitalization skills. Access to valuable sources of information, such as educational portals and career guides, can also help younger employees develop their careers.

– To give the youngest generation the best possible career start, cooperation between business and educational institutions is essential. Only then can developing the right skills in young people produce better results. For example, career counseling in schools and university career offices should be better aligned with the current business needs of the labor market and help young people make more informed decisions. On the employers' side, it is important to share practical guidance with potential future employees and enable participation in mentoring programs or internships while still in education – adds Agnieszka Pietrasik of Hays Poland.

How employers can cope with young workers' digital skills gaps

Summary:

- Competency gaps among younger employees are a serious challenge for employers in the labor market.
- Nowadays, it is important for employers to take on part of the responsibility for onboarding and better preparing young people for work in their profession.
- Investments in digital technologies and development programs for younger employees are essential from a long-term business perspective.
- Access to valuable sources of information, such as educational portals, online training and career guides, is in high demand among younger employees.

Summary

The Polish labor market is facing a competency gap among its youngest workers. As many as 69% of specialists see gaps in their preparation, and 70% of employers believe that young people will not meet future demands. Importantly, 81% of business leaders intend to invest in developing their teams' skills. The solution is cooperation between companies and education, mentoring programs, internships and investments in digital technologies that will help young people gain qualifications sought in IT and digitalization.