Every day, large Australian businesses may be losing $9 million due to the digital skills gap among their employees.
This issue stems from a lack of current digital competencies in areas such as data science, analytics, cyber security tools, and coding, leading to significant revenue losses, as reported by RMIT Online.
The report identifies key barriers to learning new skills, including work commitments, the cost of training courses, and a lack of employer resources or support.
How can we close this gap?
Apprenticeships effectively address these challenges by integrating skill development into the workplace. This approach allows employees to learn on the job, removing the need for extra hours spent on training outside of work hours.
Apprenticeships are also financially practical for employers. The government may offer financial incentives to businesses that hire apprentices, reducing the burden of training costs.
This makes apprenticeships a cost-effective method for companies to equip their workforce with essential digital skills without the significant expense typically associated with professional development.