More than 75% of young people lack the practical skills they want to use in future careers

More than 75% of young people lack the practical skills they want to use in future careers

More than three quarters of young people lack the skills they hope to use in their future careers, according to a study of 3,000 16 to 21-year-olds (coined D/NATIVES by Exasol because of their everyday digital skills) from analytics database, Exasol. The study raises questions over the skills that are prioritised by educational institutions and employers.

“There’s a balance to be struck between the digital skills that D/NATIVES have been naturally immersed in, and the practical skills that they’ll need to use in the modern workplace,” said Peter Jackson, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Exasol. “Young people recognise that technical and vocational education and training shouldn’t just develop their digital and data-driven skills, but also help them to interrogate and communicate challenges and narratives.”

These youngsters consider communication (70%), decision making (68%) and problem solving (68%) skills the ones they most want to form a major part of their future careers. 

However, these are the skills that D/NATIVES appear to lack. Only 25% feel that they’re highly effective communicators, with even poorer scores for problem solving (23%) and decision making (18%), which limits the usefulness of their digital skillset. 

This isn’t due to a lack of appetite to learn: 70% of young people saw regularly gaining new skills and experiences as important drivers for their future, while 69% want to be able to make a difference in the world and 68% to their employers. 

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