{"id":1751,"date":"2025-03-24T07:07:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knowledgepoint.com\/autodesk\/?p=1751"},"modified":"2025-03-24T07:07:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:07:05","slug":"unlocking-growth-the-economic-potential-of-digital-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/knowledgepoint.com\/autodesk\/unlocking-growth-the-economic-potential-of-digital-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking growth: the economic potential of digital skills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Manufacturing is a driver of economic growth around the world, particularly so now after the COVID-related disruptions at the start of the decade.\u00a0As global supply chains evolve and technological advancements accelerate, manufacturing across the MEA (Middle East and Africa) has the potential to boost regional performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economies are showing signs of transformation, adapting to the rapid technological advances of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital skills have the potential to be the catalyst for this transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The business case for digital skills<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital transformation is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies which integrate digital competencies \u2013 such as data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based collaboration \u2013 see improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, and market competitiveness. A report from McKinsey highlights how companies adopting digital tools in manufacturing achieve productivity gains, alongside increased agility, and innovation capacity (1)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the MEA, where manufacturing is a key pillar of economic diversification, governments and industry leaders recognise this. Initiatives such as Saudi Arabia\u2019s Vision 2030 and the UAE\u2019s Industry 4.0 strategy champion digital adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eighty per cent of companies in the wider MENA region are adopting digital technologies, and investment in digital transformation is predicted to rise rapidly (2)<\/sup>. Examples of investment include the Saudi Advanced Manufacturing Hub strategy which, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, aims to increase the number of factories to 36,000 by 2035 (3)<\/sup>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the Make it in the Emirates campaign, the UAE is attracting some of the world\u2019s leading technology and industrial companies to work within its manufacturing ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of this requires a workforce equipped a range of digital skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging the digital divide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worker profiles, job roles and the skills required in manufacturing are rapidly evolving. Traditional skills, once sufficient to operate machinery or manage production lines, are no longer enough. The modern manufacturing worker needs to be proficient in digital literacy, data analytics and machine programming.\u00a0 Indeed the World Economic Forum highlighted how 85 million jobs globally could be displaced by automation by 2025, but 97 million new roles could emerge\u2014many requiring digital expertise (4)<\/sup>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In MEA, the challenge is twofold: preparing the existing workforce for digital transformation while ensuring new entrants have the right skills from the outset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As technology continues to reshape the manufacturing industry, there is an urgent need to align education systems with industry demands \u2013 both to bring people into the sector and to up or re-skill those in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it stands, not only is there a mismatch between the skills that workers possess and the skills employers require, there simply aren\u2019t sufficient students graduating from university with the right skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When employers complain that workers do not have the right skills, they are reflecting on more than just education credentials or technical qualifications.  Workers across the region may lack proficiency in critical areas such as digital literacy, data analytics and advanced manufacturing technologies, leaving them underprepared for jobs in modern factories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an example in Africa, 21% of business leaders reported that the lack of adequate skilled workers was a major constraint to their operations, with over 29% of production workers rated as unskilled (5)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From early education to technical training, students must be exposed to the skills that will prepare them for future careers in manufacturing. Increasing emphasis on STEM education is required to cultivate the next generation of engineers, designers, and technicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investing in structured training programmes, apprenticeships, and industry-academia partnerships will be critical. Digital literacy must be embedded into technical and vocational education, and businesses must take a proactive role in upskilling employees through continuous professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Economic and business growth potential<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the region invests in developing digital skills, it is my belief that MEA\u2019s manufacturing sector will benefit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n