Impact of COVID-19 on the readiness of enterprises for employee training with the use of ICT

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the readiness of enterprises for employee training using ICT. It first examines Eurostat's secondary data, mainly comparing 2019 and 2022 for medium-sized enterprises (50-249 employees, all sectors excluding the financial sector) from the Visegrad four countries. It then examines two specific Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) indicators: Human Capital and Integration of Digital Technology. The paper concludes with an analysis of these indicators using the Kruskal-Wallis test to confirm or reject the assumed positive relationship between the indicators, and data about enterprises that provide training in order to develop the ICT skills of their employees. Data on ICT usage in enterprises were collected from Eurostat. Data on the Digital Economy and Society Index were collected for comparative analysis. COVID-19 was found to have had no significant effect on enterprise readiness for employee training with ICT. The results also suggest no positive relationship between ICT employee training and indicators from the DESI index. Learning and development practitioners should take greater account of changing and unpredictable realities, as well as the evolving nature of information and communication technology (ICT). The COVID-19 pandemic may yet help to modernise existing development offerings in organisations and foster a culture of lifelong learning.