Industry 4.0 has ushered in new digital technologies to completely transform the way industry operates. These technologies are constantly evolving to the point where some are struggling to keep up; this is especially true for the manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and other industrial sectors.
Although this rapid innovation has created new industrial opportunities and potential, it’s also left companies scrambling to find tech-savvy workers capable of navigating these technologies. As such, many companies who want to pursue advanced digital technologies are unable to do so simply because there’s nobody available to operate them.
What is the Digital Skills Gap?
According to a 2021 report from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the skills gap could result in 2.1 million positions going unfilled by 2030, many of which are due to a limited pool of digitally skilled professionals.
Because of a range of misconceptions about manufacturing and other industrial sectors, including the mistaken belief that these industries are low tech and “dirty,” millennials and Gen Z employees who grew up being deeply immersed in digital technologies from an early age and demonstrate a mastery of these technical skills aren’t particularly attracted to industrial careers.
While these industries have faced challenges in fully implementing high-tech innovations, it’s not for lack of trying or desire. Many companies are simply not equipped with the right talent to handle these new technologies, which means they are, in turn, unable to attract digitally skilled professionals. According to a report from MHI in conjunction with Deloitte, skilled individuals are hesitant to work for companies that haven’t fully adopted digital technologies.
How Can Companies Close the Digital Skills Gap?
There are a few ways that companies can deal with digital skill gaps in their own workforces:
- Reverse mentoring. The traditional mentor training relationship generally involves an older, more experienced professional imparting their wisdom and insights onto a mentee. In reverse mentoring, the roles are switched and younger employees who tend to have a higher level of digital skills educate their more experienced colleagues on how to use these technologies.
- Promote technology goals. When seeking out digital tech talent, companies should demonstrate to potential candidates that the business is ready to or has already embraced a digital culture in the workplace.
- Utilize upskilling and reskilling. As digital technologies continue to become more common in the industrial world, there will be more training programs available to help educate the existing workforce. Not only will these programs benefit companies, but they’ll also provide more workers with stable career skills.
The Future of the Digital Skills Gap
Digitalization has transformed the way businesses operate in the industrial world, so its future impact on how companies obtain and develop the skilled professionals required to operate these technologies will be significant. In order to move forward through Industry 4.0 and beyond, it will be important to actively engage both incoming and existing workers.
