The Effects of Individuals’ Levels of Computer Skills on the ICT Sector Employment in the European Union during the COVID-19 Pandemics

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the ICT employment landscape throughout Europe, confirming the importance of digitalization not only for long-term productivity and growth, but also for the economy's resilience against shocks. The current paper analyses the relationship between the individuals’ levels of computer skills and the employment in the ICT sector among the EU Member States in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The levels of computer skills among individuals in the EU were analysed in the context of the need to adapt to remote work, access information and services, and participate in the digital economy. The research methodology involves correlation and regression analyses to assess the relationship between individuals' computer skills and ICT employment among the EU Member States. The results confirm a strong positive correlation between computer skills and employed ICT specialists, while emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to improve the EU population’s computer skills through long-term commitment and collaboration among various stakeholders. The research concludes that increased computer skills can lead to job creation and contribute to the digital transformation and economic development of the European ICT sector.