Unused digital skills within the community of one million unemployed young people are estimated by UK businesses to be worth £6.7 billion, research reveals.

Unused digital skills within the community of one million unemployed young people are estimated by UK businesses to be worth £6.7 billion, research reveals.

Findings from O2 highlight businesses are in vital need of the digital skills the generation that grew up with the internet have, including web design, coding and social media expertise.



The study by the mobile operator also finds that businesses expect a fifth (21 per cent) of their growth over the next three years to come through digital channels.

When asked, “Which skills would most help your business grow and develop?”, digital skills are on a par with new business development and customer acquisition abilities.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) of businesses acknowledge that young people have digital skills in abundance but less than one quarter (24 per cent) are planning to offer a first time job or an ‘on the job’ training role to a young person in the coming months.



O2 CEO Ronan Dunne says, 'There are more than a million young people out of work. It’s a travesty that whilst businesses are crying out for digital skills, they are excluding from the workplace the very people who have them.

'Now is the time when thousands of young people will be deciding what to do next. Businesses need to recognise the value that young people can bring – they are the future fuel of the economy and have the skills we need to help pull us out of recession.'



According to the research, nine out of ten (90 per cent) of young people surveyed can use social media to promote an event, idea or cause, with two thirds (66 per cent) able to design a webpage. 


One in five can develop an app, and 13 per cent are “confident” at coding. A further 36 per cent are confident in working with databases.

See also: Improve your workplace skills