Digital skills of Ukrainians: Reults of self-assesment, conclusions and measures for overcoming digital inclusion

This article is devoted to the reasoning of the usefulness of investigation of digital skills formation processes in the context of digital economy. The current state of governmental and scientific research of the level of digital skills of Ukrainians was critically assessed. The results of extensive empirical analysis of digital skills of Ukrainians were demonstrated. The analysis was conducted based on the respondents’ responses on a survey within the scope of a conjoint research project of Kyiv Vadym Hetman National Economic University and HUAWEI entitled “Digital economy, the influence of information and communication technologies on human capital and formation of competencies of future”. The purpose of the research is enhancing and refining existing conclusions and recommendations through addressing results of self-assessment of level of digital skills which depended on social and demographic characteristics of respondents. The viability of influence of these predictors on the level and differentiation of digital skills was empirically proved. The level of digital skills was identified based on the results of empirical data processing realized with the help of special program package Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). In order to achieve this aim, contingency tables were created and analyzed. The analysis of level of digital skills was conducted based on criteria of minimal level of proficiency (general analysis) and in terms of five applicable spheres: information literacy and skills of working with data, communication and collaboration, creating of digital content, problem solving, cyber security. The age, gender, specialty and income level of respondents were considered as viable predictors for digital skills level differentiation. The identified digital gap (differentiation of level of digital skills) helped to prioritize areas for formation of digital skills, namely: problem solving and cyber security. The list of “digital vulnerable groups” of population was determined, as follows: people of mature (36-45 years), pre-pension (55-65 years) and pension (over 66 years) age; women; people with education in the fields of knowledge such as “Military Sciences and National Security”, “Humanities and Arts”, “Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine”, “Biology and Health”. Although income level does not influence significantly on the level of respondents’ digital skills, the opportunity of increasing in income level in case of higher level of digital skills proficiency may be used as a motivator of their formation and improvement. The results of investigation and proposed recommendations aimed at overcoming digital inclusion are of primary value for the Ministry of Digital Transformation, other governmental and associative institutions, representatives of science and education. The research results would be of value for planning and implementing measures directed at increasing the level of digital skills of Ukrainians