Research indicates digital skills shortage in NZ

Research indicates digital skills shortage in NZ

20 February 2017:  Half of Kiwis in the workforce admit they need to acquire more digital skills in order to guarantee their future employability.

The latest findings from recruitment and HR specialist, Randstad, has revealed that when it comes to digitization, 50% of Kiwi respondents admit they need to acquire more skills in order to guarantee their future employability, and 68% agree that the employees at their current employer do not have the required digital skill sets. Across the water, our Aussie neighbour’s confidence in their skills is slightly less at 55%, while China and Malaysia are the most unconfident coming in at 93% and 91% respectively.

In addition, although 86% of Kiwi surveyed for the quarterly Randstad Workmonitor & Mobility Index acknowledge the importance for their current employer to have a digital strategy, only 64% state that the company they work for actually has one.

Country Manager of Randstad New Zealand, Brien Keegan says these findings provide some interesting insights into the challenges employers face in terms of digital literacy in the work place.

“The research highlights the importance for employees of keeping digital skills current and taking opportunities to upskill.

“For employers it’s important to keep abreast of digital developments and provide the necessary training. This serves a two-fold purpose, it ensures staff are suitably equipped with the skills they need to feel confident in their work and reduces the opportunity for skill shortages in this growing area.

“The survey also revealed that 38% of Kiwis think more of their job could be automated to free up their time, so there’s an opportunity here for employers to look at ways of adapting the business to increase productivity,” says Keegan.

ENDS
For detailed insights into all 33 countries contributing to the quarterly Randstad Workmonitor & Mobility Index, visit http://www.randstad.com/press/research-reports

-ENDS-

Country Manager of Randstad New Zealand, Brien Keegan is available for interviews.

The quarterly Randstad Workmonitor
The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in the Netherlands in 2003, then in Germany, and now covers 33 countries around the world. The last country to join was Portugal in 2014. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published 4 times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time.

The Workmonitor’s Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next 6 months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions.

The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). Minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country. The Survey Sampling International (SSI) panel is used for sampling purposes. The fourth wave of 2016 was conducted from October 26 – November 9, 2016.

About Randstad
Randstad is one of the world’s leading recruitment & HR services specialists, passionate about matching people with organisations that will develop their potential and matching organisations with people that will take their business to the next level. The Randstad Group employs over 560,000 people every day with the aim of 'shaping the world of work'. For further information visit www.randstad.co.nz

© Scoop Media