​Knowledge and Hard Skills of Citizens or Communities​

Digital skills are defined as the ability to find, evaluate, use, share, and create content using digital devices, such as computers and smartphones. These days, the digital skills required in the workplace are a bit more advanced, and companies expect the vast majority of their employees to have them, not just a select few. Technology is at the center of our lives, and as our dependence on the internet and digital communications increases, our workforce must keep up with the evolving skill demand. The United Nations (UN) agency responsible for global measurement of the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), defines digital skills for the global population in terms of their putative outcomes: ‘the ability to use ICTs in ways that help individuals to achieve beneficial, high-quality outcomes in everyday life for themselves and others’ and that ‘reduce potential harm associated with more negative aspects of digital engagement’ (ITU, 2018: 23). In this, it serves the multiple and diverse interests of its members (most countries and many public and private sector stakeholders) who seek to thrive and compete in the digital age, including delivering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).​