The Essential Digital Skills Framework reflects the range of skills people need to safely benefit from, participate in and contribute to the digital world of today and tomorrow, in life and at work.
Developed in 2018 on behalf of the Department for Education, the framework was updated in 2022 in consultation with employers, local and national government, academics and individuals.
It outlines five key skill areas and specific digital tasks that people should be able to complete to demonstrate each skill.
At the base of the framework are Foundation skills, required by those not currently using digital technology or using it in very limited ways – this includes the basics of operating a device, like using a mouse or touchscreen.
Building on the Foundation skills, the framework outlines the five Essential Digital Skills, and the tasks required to demonstrate each skill in both a Life and Work context.
Here you can view the Essential Digital Skills for Work, including the 20 work tasks, or more detail on the entire Essential Digital Skills Framework.
The Essential Digital Skills framework is used by Lloyds Bank to assess the levels of digital capability across the UK, as part of their annual Consumer Digital Index. You can find the latest data on their website.