The digital age has transformed the world of work, leading to the need for specialized digital skills. With the increasing importance of digital skills across all sectors, countries worldwide are taking steps to standardize their skills frameworks for defining and assessing these skills.
One such framework that has been gaining popularity is the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).
In this blog, we’ll explore why entire countries are standardizing on SFIA and why countries who do not identify a framework for defining digital skills will get left behind in the new digital economy.
What is SFIA?
SFIA is a skills framework that defines the skills and competencies required for professionals working in the IT and digital sectors. The framework includes a comprehensive set of skills and levels of proficiency for each skill, ranging from foundation level to mastery level. SFIA is an open-source framework and is continually updated to reflect the changing demands of the digital industry.
Why Countries are Standardizing on SFIA?
The use of SFIA is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with entire countries adopting the framework for standardizing their digital skills development.
One example is Australia, which has made SFIA a core component of its Digital Transformation Agency’s Digital Capability Framework. This framework provides a consistent and standardized approach to assessing the digital skills of the Australian government’s workforce. It has helped to improve recruitment and training processes across the country.
Here are some reasons why countries are standardizing on SFIA:
- Common Language for Digital Skills: SFIA provides a common language for digital skills across organizations and sectors, making it easier for employers to communicate the skills they need in their workforce. This common language also helps to prevent confusion and miscommunication around job roles and responsibilities.
- Consistency and Transparency: SFIA provides a consistent and transparent way of defining and assessing digital skills. This consistency and transparency make it easier for employees to understand what is expected of them and for employers to assess and manage their workforce’s skills.
- International Standard: SFIA is an international standard recognized and used worldwide. Standardizing on SFIA helps to align a country’s digital skills framework with international standards, making it easier for professionals to move across borders and for employers to compare skill sets across different countries.
- Up-to-date with Technological Advances: SFIA is continually updated to reflect the latest technological advances and changes in the digital industry. Standardizing SFIA ensures that a country’s digital skills framework remains up-to-date and relevant.
Countries that don’t identify a formal strategy for defining and measuring digital skills consistently will get left behind as new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Quantum Computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) accelerate at an alarming pace!
Here are some reasons why:
- Difficulty in Assessing and Developing Digital Skills: Without a standard framework for defining and assessing digital skills, it becomes difficult for employers to assess their workforce’s skills accurately. This, in turn, makes it challenging to develop a comprehensive training and development plan to upskill employees.
- Limited International Recognition: Without an international standard for digital skills, countries risk creating a fragmented and isolated digital skills framework that is not recognized internationally. This limits the mobility of professionals across borders and makes it difficult for employers to compare skill sets across countries.
- Risk of Falling Behind Technologically: Without a standard framework for digital skills, countries risk falling behind technologically. This, in turn, puts their economy at risk as they struggle to keep up with the digital demands of the global market.
Adopting SFIA countrywide will ensure governments, enterprises, and citizens are prepared for the digital age with a workforce that has the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
If you have questions about SFIA, please contact me directly or you can learn more about SFIA by downloading the Free SFIA Cheat Sheet from SkillsTX.
AUTHOR NOTE: Reproduced with thanks to John Kleist III, Chief Growth Officer for SkillsTX and author of Digital Talent Strategies, a popular newsletter on LinkedIn. John proudly considers himself a Talent Management Revolutionary: Spearheading Skills-Based Digital Talent Strategies with SkillsTX Talent eXperience Skills Intelligence and the #SFIA Framework | Unlock Your #PassionForPotential.
