Finland – National Digital Decade strategic roadmap

• July 23, 2024
• admin

The Finland’s strategic roadmap for the Digital Decade developed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications sets out the strategic goals to be achieved by 2030, monitoring their achievement, and the target paths and key measures have been developed.  

The report uses the data in the Digital Decade Report 2023 on the National Base Value of the Digital Decade Targets, the EU baseline value for Digital Decade Targets in 2023 and the EU target value for 2030.

Finland has a highly digitally skilled population. In 2022, the share of the population with at least basic digital skills (79%) was very close to the EU Digital Decade target of 80% and much higher than the EU average of 54%. Moreover, the share of population with above basic digital skills (48%) reported in 2021 also exceeded the EU average of 26% in that year. The share of ICT specialists of total employment (7.6% in 2022) is very high, compared with both the EU Digital Decade target (10%) and the EU average in 2022 (4.6%). In education, the share of ICT graduates among all graduates is 7.6%, and the share of companies providing ICT training is 40%. The figures show that Finland is continuing its efforts to maintain the high number of ICT specialists in the workforce, while emphasising convergence between the number of men and women in these jobs. 

The Roadmap for Finland consists of 4 chapters:

• Competence
• Infrastructures
• Business digitalization
• Public services

Priorities for the development of digital skills

Adequate digital skills are a precondition not only for finding employment but also for participation and inclusion in society. SMEs in particular require also solutions for skills enhancement that allow the efficient development of digital skills as part of their day-to-day business. Skills and competencies are also necessary to prepare for hybrid and cyber security threats as well as influence through information.

Investment should be made in increasing the number of ICT experts. The attractiveness of the sector also to women and international professionals should be ensured. Finland’s investment in ICT competence and the development of continuous learning solutions as well as measures to increase the number of higher education graduates promote the realisation of the digital targets of enterprises and public administration.

Measures contributing to the achievement of the target

• Measure 1: Promote digital skills, media literacy and digital service use and participation skills (incl. critical literacy).

• Measure 2: Launch societal discussion on digital Bildung and inclusion in an increasingly digital society.

• Measure 3: Develop a set of indicators for media literacy.

• Measure 4: Meet competence needs in the ICT sector through education and training leading to degrees and qualifications and by developing educational pathways for ICT experts and professionals.

• Measure 5: Introduce additional incentives for international students to remain in Finland to work after graduation.

• Measure 6: STEM work.

Key challenges to overcome

• Basic digital skills must be extended to an even broader group with the aim of ranking first among EU Member States.
• While Finland’s current situation ranks well in the EU comparison, an increasing share of the population are in need of basic digital skills.
• The digital competence of employees in the education and culture sector and their ability to pass on digital skills and competence will be strengthened. Public libraries also play an important role in promoting digital education in all population groups.