Information and Communication Technology’s Skills among the Working Population of Serbia

Abstract

Major social shifts in the economy conditioned by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have led to equal shifts in the labor market. In this paper, the use of ICT skills in Serbia is presented through an analysis of the microdata from the survey “The Usage of Information and Communication Technology on individuals/households in the Republic of Serbia for 2020”.  Results showed that Internet users have increased in the last five years. According to results, in 2020, 78.4% of people between 16 and 74 used computers in the last three months. The number of unemployed who used a computer in 2020 was 83.6%, and the number of employed who used a computer was 92.7%. Students used computers 99.8% in 2020. On the other hand, 96.3% of employed used the Internet in 2020, while 89.2% of unemployed used Internet at the same period. The use of e-government web services is almost present to the same extent among students, the employed and unemployed. Unlike online shopping, students are most likely to use e-government services, even though the employed and unemployed both use online shopping equally. However, comparing statistical data, Serbia is not at the European level in ICT usage , which can significantly jeopardise individuals' position in the labor market. There are substantial distinctions between youth and older individuals, especially regarding advanced skills. This affects the creation of digital exclusion, which increases the lack of resources that can be employed in better-paid jobs. The main solution for solving the digital divide is education to ensure equal competitiveness for all individuals on the labor market.