Introducing the Essential Digital Skills Framework
The Essential Digital Skills Framework reflects the range of skills people need to safely benefit from, participate in and contribute to the digital world.
Validated by industry and government, it outlines five key skill areas and the digital tasks that people should be able to complete to demonstrate each skill in both life and work.
Updated in 2023, the framework is underpinned by the foundation skills an individual needs to access technology at the most basic level (e.g., turning a device on, using a mouse).
Five essential digital skill areas
- Communicating
- Handling information and content
- Transacting
- Problem solving
- Being safe and legal online
Embedding AI
In partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, FutureDotNow has reviewed the work element of the Essential Digital Skills Framework, in light of an AI-enabled world of work.
The outcome was a set of recommendations for incorporating the AI competencies necessary for the modern workplace.
Turn insight into action with a FutureDotNow membership
The Essential Digital Skills Framework helps organisations understand the skills their workforce needs.
FutureDotNow membership helps organisations put those insights into practice, providing access to practical resources, peer learning opportunities, expert guidance and tools that support workforce digital and AI skills development.
How membership helps
Membership connects the framework to practical action, helping organisations understand where they are now, where skills gaps exist and what to do next.
Access practical tools and resources
Explore guides, templates, research, examples and practical resources designed to help organisations build workforce digital capability.
Learn from peers
Connect with organisations facing similar challenges through member events, webinars and shared learning opportunities.
Share your impact
Share your organisation’s progress through member stories, webinars, case studies and FutureDotNow channels. Help shape the national conversation on workforce digital skills while highlighting the action your organisation is taking.
More about the Essential Digital Skills Framework
Government ownership of the framework
In March 2026 the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced it would take on stewardship of the framework, including keeping it up to date and establishing a national measure of skills levels.
Ensuring a future-fit framework
Embedding AI in the framework
Read FutureDotNow’s report that examines the skills in the Essential Digital Skills Framework and proposes evidence-based updates to incorporate the AI competencies necessary for the modern workplace.
Further resources
Explained: How the framework can evolve to reflect AI
This short download provides detail on the recommendations made in the AI-embedded framework including the proposed new work tasks and changes made to existing tasks.
Download: The framework and recommended AI changes
This handy 1-pager sets out the five skills areas and 20 work tasks of the Essential Digital Skills Framework alongside the changes we recommend to ensure the framework keeps pace with AI
The essential digital skills gap
Find out more about the gap in essential digital skills across the UK workforce, how it’s showing up for different sectors and demographics and the impact it’s having on individuals, their employers and the UK economy.
