'Digital natives' may not be digitally work-ready

More than half of respondents aged 18 and under lacked the essential digital skills needed for modern life in an assessment by education charity NCFE, challenging assumptions that younger people enter education and work with strong digital capabilities.

The research assessed participants across five areas of digital capability: using devices and handling information, creating and editing, communicating, staying safe and responsible online and transacting.

Among respondents aged 18 and under, 46% were working below Level 1 in staying safe and responsible online. The assessment covered tasks including recognising suspicious links, adjusting privacy settings and identifying secure websites.

The results challenge the assumption that familiarity with smartphones, social media and other consumer technology translates into the digital capabilities required at work.

'Growing up online doesn't automatically prepare young people for today's digital workplace,' said David Redden, digital skills specialist at NCFE.

'We often assume that because young people have grown up surrounded by smartphones, social media and technology, they'll naturally have the digital skills employers are looking for. However, this isn't always the case.'

Digital communication was the strongest area assessed, with four in five respondents demonstrating Level 1 proficiency in tasks including email, messaging, video calls and sharing digital content.

Skills gaps extended beyond younger participants. One in five respondents across all age groups lacked the essential digital skills assessed, while one in four were working below Level 1 for digital transactions such as setting up online accounts, completing forms and managing money online.

Separate figures from digital inclusion coalition FutureDotNow estimate that more than 20 million working-age adults cannot complete all the digital tasks considered essential for the workplace.

Redden said employers need to identify existing capability rather than assume employees have acquired the necessary skills before entering work.

'For employers, what's key is helping people understand their digital skills and creating the platform for them to continue developing those skills throughout their careers.'

NCFE carried out the assessment as part of its No One Left Offline campaign, which addresses essential digital skills and digital exclusion in the UK.