New Economy Skills 2025

identify candidates with technical expertise as well as a growth mindset and resilience. Technology has the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness of digital skills assessment systems. AI can monitor individual learning pathways chosen and provide tailored recommendations to optimize their progress and address specific gaps. In doing so, AI can highlight particularly innovative or effective problem-solving approaches, ensuring that creative achievements and unique solutions that might go unnoticed in traditional assessment frameworks are recognized and recorded. AI-driven insights can identify targeted training opportunities for those who need additional development and document and celebrate exceptional contributions of high achievers. To translate these principles into practice: –Educators : can partner with industry to develop real-world, performance-based assessment experiences, including hackathons, simulated projects and internships, that mirror workplace demands. –Employers : can collaborate with other employers within and across industries to align on recognized assessments for AI, data and digital skills, and use AI and analytics tools to map workforce digital capabilities. –Governments : can develop and promote national frameworks to assess digital, data and AI skills; invest in accessible, AI-enabled assessment infrastructure, particularly for underserved or low-connectivity regions; incentivize collaboration between education, industry and certification providers to align assessment practices; and support research and pilots that test innovative assessment models. Developing digital skills Digital skills require consistent practice, targeted feedback and supportive environments. Learners need hands-on tasks, mentorship and safe spaces to make mistakes and learn from them. Collaboration, access to resources and ongoing support are vital for building, retaining and applying digital skills in the real world. Prioritize new economy skills : Digital skills are no longer optional, but central to innovation, growth and resilience. They must therefore be woven intentionally into curricula and professional development, supported by robust investment, clear strategic commitment and ongoing practical application. Structured, hands-on opportunities to build and apply digital skills beyond basic literacy must be embedded across education systems and workplaces alike. This requires intentional integration, sustained investment and practical application rather than one-off initiatives. Yet, supply challenges still mire global economies. Bridging this gap requires a mindset shift: digital skills must be treated as essential infrastructure rather than a niche domain. Aligning digital skill development with industry-recognized standards and learning environments for authentic practice and reflection are critical. Equally important, leaders must commit resources over the long term, ensuring that learners have access to tools, support and structured learning opportunities across their careers. Create safe spaces : Developing digital skills requires environments where people can fail safely and learn by doing. Replicated safe environments of real systems provide realistic practices spaces without the risk of causing damage. Technology can help. AI can simulate sophisticated cybersecurity opponents, enabling learners to test their defences against realistic and adaptive threats in a secure environment. Meanwhile, virtual reality (VR) allows participants to bridge the gap between theory and practice through hands-on, interactive experience. A culture of psychological safety is also important. Mistakes become valuable learning opportunities, allowing learners to build resilience and confidence as they try out new digital tools, approaches and solutions. Fuel purposeful learning : Immersive, practical experiences tied to a clear purpose are essential for developing genuine digital skills. Activities like interactive simulations, building coding portfolios, and role-playing digital scenarios allow learners to experiment, apply their knowledge in realistic situations and learn from direct feedback. Moreover, when aligned with a realistic objective, such as a cybersecurity simulation where learners are defending a digital representation of their organization, the purpose of the training exercise is even clearer. To translate these principles into practice: –Educators : can establish “digital sandboxes”, virtual labs where students can test code, run simulations and solve real-world challenges safely; promote cultures that celebrate experimentation and reflection; and use AI and VR tools to simulate complex digital scenarios for hands-on learning. –Employers : can build “digital sandboxes” and internal simulation environments for safe innovation; map digital skill gaps and embed skill-building into workforce development strategies; and connect training programmes to tangible business goals. –Governments : can create national digital skills strategies aligned with economic priorities and industry needs; fund public-private partnerships that expand access to advanced digital training; and develop ethical and safety standards for digital learning environments. New Economy Skills: Building AI, Data and Digital Capabilities for Growth 31