Digital skills prerequisite for employment in NZ

About one million workers in New Zealand — or 35% of the country’s total workforce — will need digital skills training next year to find a job after the pandemic.
According to a joint survey by Amazon Web Services and economics consulting firm AlphaBeta, 80% of the respondents said that they need more digital skills to cope with changes in their jobs.
More than half, or 67%, of workers said that they want to have cloud skills training by 2025 to have progress in their careers.
The research also stated that cloud-based skills — including cloud developer tools, cloud-based communication software, accounting software, and customer relationship management software — will be the most in-demand skill by 2025, followed by cybersecurity skills.
AlphaBeta Asia Pacific Director Genevieve Lim said “the research shows that job changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the need for more training for both tech and non-tech workers on digital capabilities in New Zealand.”
Of the employers surveyed, 91% reported that they save a productivity increase after providing skills training for their workers.
Meanwhile, 86% said that they are able to fast-track their digitisation goals, 79% were able to save costs, 80% reported higher employee retention, and 76% saw an increase in revenue.