ASSESSMENT OF ADULT WORKFORCE E-SKILL AND DIGITAL LITERACY LEVEL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Adults being digital migrants are not mostly conversant with digital materials and contents. So, they need to be integrated into the latest means of livelihood as literacies affect every area of human endeavours. In the modern working world, digital skills are a must and there is a base level of essential digital skills required to land a job in this day and age. Although an adult may not be working in highly sophisticated digitalised industry specifically, digital skills are required for all types of jobs. Many employers will expect candidates to demonstrate essential digital skills, and may even require advanced digital skills for some roles. Against this background, the study assessed adult workforce e-skill and digital literacy level in Kwara state. The study employed a descriptive survey research design, a research question was answered and three hypotheses tested using 832 government workers who were selected through total inclusive accidental sampling technique across government workers in Kwara state. A validated instrument tagged Adult Workforce E-skill and Digital Literacy Questionnaire (AEDLQ; r=0.94) was used for data collection in the study. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics of simple percentages, mean, standard deviations, and inferential statistics of t-test and ANOVA. The findings revealed that the extent of adult workforce e-skill and digital literacy level in Kwara state was on the low side. Besides, this finding was not gender sensitive (t(1,830) = 2.09; p=0.86>0.05). However, the study showed significant differences in adult workforce e-skill and digital literacy level based on job type (F(3,831)=48.89; p=0.00) and highest qualification (F(4,831)=38.30; p=0.00). The implications for optimum performance at working places were discussed. It was recommended among others that all hands must be on deck to make provisions for all necessary impetus to transform adult workforce with e-skill and digital literacy