“Aging workers have the greatest deficiencies in digital skills—particularly in the areas of cybersecurity, use of two-factor authentication, working with office software such as Word and Excel, email management, and data analytics. In terms of soft skills, weaknesses were found in communication, providing feedback, and coping with stress and uncertainty associated with digitization,” said Ondřej Pavelek from the Institute of Law and Human Sciences at MENDELU’s Faculty of Economics and Management, describing the results of the research.
Research shows that the differences between men and women are not significant; problems with digital and soft skills affect both genders relatively equally. “The sample consisted of 42% men and 58% women, with similar difficulties appearing in both groups. The results show that 29% of older workers do not feel confident in learning new digital tools. Only 34% are able to use office programs effectively, and 38% have problems coping with the stress associated with digitization. The difference between the digital skills of younger and older workers in Czechia is 50.7%, which is higher than the EU average,” said the researcher.
People aged 50 and above are usually considered to be part of the aging workforce; in the Czech context, the main group monitored is the 55 to 65 age group. “These workers usually have five to ten years until retirement, depending on their exact age and individual retirement age. The share of workers aged 55 to 64 in Czechia in 2014 was 15.7%, while in 2023 it will be 18% of all employed persons. This represents almost one-fifth of the workforce,” Pavelek explained.
The main motivation for education among these workers is the possibility of higher wages or promotion. “Face-to-face training and workshops, where they learn from practical examples, are an effective tool. Older workers prefer face-to-face meetings rather than online ones. There are also various digital courses, up to 82% of which can be paid for by the state. This is also related to a combination of digital and soft skills, such as team projects, which teach both technology and communication skills,” explained Martina Rašticová from the Institute of Management.
The results of the research are based on a questionnaire survey of a total of 114 respondents from a total population of approximately 905,000 workers aged 55–64. All fourteen regions of the Czech Republic were represented. Data was collected using a questionnaire with 31 questions among companies, government agencies, and universities. Distribution took place online, by mail, and in person.