DIGITAL COMPETENCE IN EUROPE – GERMANY WEAKENS
Munich, June 13, 2024 – Basic digital skills are essential for the digital transformation. However, current surveys show that In a European comparison, Germany is still lagging noticeably behind. In order to avoid long-term economic damage, our country needs a turnaround in digital policy, says the Munich-based PR-COM Research Lab.
The proportion of 16- to 74-year-olds in Germany with at least basic digital skills was 52% in 2023. This is shown by statistical data from Eurostat, whose indicator includes various areas of competence: Information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, security and problem solving. With a score of 52%, Germany is in the lower midfield, lagging well behind countries such as the Netherlands (83%), Finland (82%) and Norway (81%). At 56%, the average value for the EU-27 is also higher than in Germany.
Significant deficits in education and administration
These figures reflect many of the deficits that experts have been criticizing in German digitization policy for years. This includes deficits in school equipment and the education system, the sluggish digitalization of public administration (keyword: Online Access Act and eGovernment) and major differences in the willingness of companies to adequately promote digital training opportunities for their employees. The result of this slow digitalization process: a lack of individual development prospects for employees, social inequality and long-term economic damage.
Long-term damage to the business location
In the digital age, digital skills are an important factor for the economic development of business locations. The correlation between basic digital skills and GDP per capita shows that an increasing level of skills can have a positive impact on prosperity. GDP per capita in Germany in 2023 was comparatively high in relation to the level of skills: this could be due to the export balance and the high level of skills in sectors such as mechanical engineering or automotive. However, the current development in these industries clearly shows that the lead is crumbling and requires countermeasures. There is therefore no way around a digitalization offensive.
“Measuring up to the best – this should be the goal of German digitalization policy more than ever,” explains Dr. Jona van Laak, Head of the PR-COM Research Lab in Munich. “Pioneering countries such as the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands show impressively how far they have already come when it comes to digitalization in business and society. In order not to lose touch, Germany needs a digital jolt at all levels – from the level of competence of citizens to innovations in the corporate sector and a digital administrative offering from the state.”
For any questions and further discussions please contact us at researchlab@pr-com.de.