The 2024 Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index reveals that c.21 million (52%) working-age adults cannot perform all 20 work tasks outlined in the Essential Digital Skills Framework.
This is a change of just 2% from c.21.7 million (54%) in 2023. This is a clear indication that Essential Digital Skills growth has stagnated, despite the rapid advancement of workplace technology like AI.
The gap in workforce digital skills impacts economic growth, business productivity and individual prosperity. The latest data makes it clear; we need a great Digital Catch Up. All sectors must unite to supercharge action and ensure, everyone has the opportunity to develop the skills deemed essential by both government and industry.
Skills view
The CDI reports that c.7.3 million (18%) lack the Essential Digital Skills (EDS) needed for the workplace. This measure is based on the ‘skills view’ of the Essential Digital Skills Framework.
In this context, ‘having the EDS for Work’ means an individual can complete at least one task in each of the five skill areas of the Framework (transacting, communication, problem solving, handling information and content, and being safe and legal online), out of a total of 20 tasks. They might have all 20 task or may have as few as five.
Task view
The ‘task view’ of the data reveals a much more significant skills gap.
c.21 million (52%) cannot do all 20 Work tasks found in the Essential Digital Skills Framework.
This is down from 54% in 2022. At this rate of change, it would take 30 years to realise a fully digitally capable and confident workforce.
c.2.3 million (6%) cannot complete any of the 20 Work tasks.
This is up from the 2023 figure of c.1.9 million (5%). Almost half a million more people are unable to complete any of the essential digital Work tasks.
There are communities in which the gap is more pronounced:
| Part-time workers |
65% can’t do all 20 tasks
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Construction sector
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65% can’t do all 20 tasks |
| Older workers |
63% of those 55+ can’t do all 20 tasks
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Those with an impairment
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62% can’t do all 20 tasks |
The gap is still present in groups we expect to be ‘high performers’:
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Tech sector
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One in five (20%) can’t do all 20 tasks
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Workers earning over £75,000 p/a
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Nearly one in three (32%) can’t do all 20 tasks
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Workers with a degree/Masters/PhD
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Almost one in two (43%) can’t do all 20 tasks
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18- to 24-year-olds
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Almost one in two (48%) can’t do all 20 tasks
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All regions experience the skills gap:
| Northern Ireland |
61% of workers can’t do all 20 tasks
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| Wales |
59% of workers can’t do all 20 tasks
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| UK-wide |
In only two regions (East England and London) can more than half the labour force complete all 20 tasks (55% can/45% can’t, 53% can/47% can’t, respectively)
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However, the top three tasks most missing from the workforce suggest priority areas of focus:
| Essential Digital Work Task | % can’t do | EDS Framework Skill Area | Impact | |
| 1. | I can improve my own and/or the organisation’s productivity using digital tools (e.g. Trello, Microsoft Projects and Planner, Slack) | 29% | Problem solving | Productivity |
| 2. | I can set privacy and marketing settings for websites and my accounts (e.g. managing social media privacy settings, managing cookie settings, updating contact preferences) | 23% | Being safe and legal online |
Cybersecurity Reputational |
| 3. | I can set up and manage an account on a professional online network (e.g. LinkedIn) | 22% | Communicating | Talent overlooked |