About one-third of workers have low digital literacy or lack it altogether, despite over 90% of jobs requiring it, and government agencies are no exception. Earlier this year, Congress introduced a bill, called the Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act, that would amend the decade-old Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include a federal grant program focused on digital training.
Digital transformation continues to be a government priority, but requires employees who are willing and able to embrace new technology. And yet, skills gaps persist and were even cited in 22 of 37 problem areas identified by the Government Accountability Office in a 2023 report. The tough reality is that technology is evolving faster than ever, and many organizations are struggling to keep up.
To address this issue, government agencies need to provide upskilling and continuous learning in a way that works for their employees. According to a survey conducted by GovLoop, the vast majority of government employees prefer having the option of either in-person or online learning. Online learning in particular is a powerful tool for upskilling government employees, as it gives them the flexibility to learn at their own pace and schedule, accommodating diverse work environments and personal commitments.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of online learning and some examples of successful online or hybrid upskilling efforts.
The Benefits of Online Learning
One huge benefit of online learning is that it can be done from anywhere. Flexibility makes it easier for employees to balance their existing responsibilities with the need to gain new skills. While technical skills are often the focus of upskilling (and for good reason, as they’re needed for employees across departments to embrace cutting-edge tools like AI), online platforms are also well-suited for soft skills like leadership development.
In addition to the flexibility that online learning provides, it also offers cost and time savings, reducing the need for in-person training sessions and travel. This cost and time savings has positive ripple effects by allowing agencies to offer employees more training. Looking ahead, AI could also transform how online trainings operate, with AI integrated directly into learning modules.
Continuous Learning Use Cases
A whopping 95% of HR leaders are investing in digital training, with 77% focused on ensuring continuous learning. As such, those who do not prioritize upskilling are likely to fall behind. Some government agencies have already mandated AI upskilling programs for their employees.
The good news is that the quality and availability of online learning continue to grow. ThriveDX, for example, is a global leader in cybersecurity education, and collaborates with top-tier academic institutions, enterprises, and government branches to train even non-technical employees. Even better, their offerings can be on-site, live-online, or self-paced.
Udacity is another case study in the possibilities presented by online learning, as their robust instructor-led online training program brings programming, data science, AI, and cybersecurity courses to government employees.
The Bottom Line
To keep up with the rapidly evolving digital landscape, government employees need to be learning on an ongoing basis. Whether it’s translating technical skills they already have or gaining new skills altogether, upskilling will be a crucial component of success. Online learning platforms are a great way to ensure employees can balance upskilling with their existing responsibilities, as they offer more flexibility, in addition to cost savings.
To learn more about how you might start growing your skillset, visit Carahsoft’s list of government events and resources to see what is upcoming.
Michael Shrader is Vice President of Intelligence and Innovative Solutions (IIS) at Carahsoft. In his role, he oversees a team of 300+ employees that supports over 250 technology vendors, driving over $2B in annual bookings. Michael’s teams help vendors penetrate the government market by supporting sales, marketing and go-to-market strategy. This support extends into educating technology vendors on how best to work with government, while also helping government understand how they can benefit from embracing new and innovative solutions.
Michael has received numerous distinctions for his work including the CRN Channel Chiefs Award and the FCW Rising Star Award.
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