Realising the potential of Asean's digital workforce

AS we head into 2020, a decade of change and transformation is upon us, one that is underpinned by the growing importance of data. As we learn to create more value with data, digital skills will determine the success of individuals, businesses and entire economies in a future that is now defined by technology.

South-east Asia offers us a clear illustration of the importance of a skilled digital workforce. The region's digital economy is booming, and the integration of intraregional trade is set to deliver a $1 trillion rise in GDP in Asean within the next five years. While the future looks bright for Asean, there is a crucial obstacle the region must overcome - the need to equip its workforce with the right skills in an age where data is the new oil. This is not just Asean's problem, it is a global challenge as well. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, as many as 375 million workers globally - 14 per cent of the global workforce - will need to change their occupational categories and learn new skills to adapt to automation and digital transformation.

In this new digital paradigm, Asean businesses and governments must find new ways to inspire their workforce to find meaning in data, embracing new digital skillsets in the workplace and beyond.

Harnessing the potential of Asean's youth

As Asean races ahead with digital nation strategies, human capital development (and not technology) has emerged as the key for individuals to achieve their full potential. On a macro level, this will help Asean member states catalyse economic growth while reducing overall income inequality.

Human capital development is a critical enabler for digital transformation, and this is of paramount importance for Asean as it strives to stay competitive against larger economies.

A truly digital workforce can only be built if we put people at the heart of digital transformation.

This means going beyond just training people for more sophisticated roles, but instead, inculcating an innate digital-led and collaborative mindset at an early age, enabling the workforce to continuously adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape.

Current digital training practices should be re-evaluated if we are to ensure everyone - regardless of age, demographic or background - has the relevant skills to thrive in the digital future.

Asean should ensure that its workforce understands the transformative potential of technology - this will encourage individuals to build a digital-first mindset where they understand how their digital skills can be used to benefit society. By doing so, Asean can close the gap between digital skills training and bulding a truly digital workforce.

There is an urgent need to fundamentally revamp the way we upskill our youths. Instead of the usual classroom-based lessons, digital education must include programmes that promote social learning and interaction with experts and peers. Online platforms should also be leveraged to bridge hurdles of access, while gamification and goal-based objectives can be used to increase engagement and inclusiveness.

Nurturing the next generation of digital leaders

As we move towards an all-digital future, our society requires digitally-savvy workers who can drive digital transformation in both the public and private sectors. Though many of them are digital natives, our youths still need to be well acquainted with the latest innovations so they can harness technology to help solve complex challenges such as those outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond education on the technical aspects of digital technologies, training will need to integrate practical experiences.

One key initiative is the Asean Data Science Explorers competition. Jointly organised by the Asean Foundation and SAP, it has enabled 1,000 educators and 9,000 youths across the region to derive data-driven insights and solutions for some of the region's more pressing issues such as youth unemployment, neonatal mortality and waste generation.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration is a crucial element to drive effective, sustainable change. Beyond collaboration between businesses, public-private collaborations are required to deliver greater social impact. The SAP Skills University Singapore is one such collaboration by SkillsFuture Singapore, the five local polytechnics and SAP to equip fresh graduates and mid-career professionals with critical skillsets needed in today's digital economy.

A human-centric approach

When we come together to connect the core competencies of different organisations and multiply the impact that we have with each other, we'll be able to truly solve the skills-gap and build an inclusive, skilled digital workforce that will drive innovation here and beyond.

By putting people at the heart of digital transformation, we can ensure everyone - regardless of age or background - has the relevant skills to thrive, innovate, and secure meaningful work in a digital world.