Interplay of Skills in the Digital Era: A European Perspective

Industry 4.0 and digital transformation play an important role in business, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The changes occurring are not merely concentrated on technology implementation and digital business, but also involve understanding and reshaping labour forces, since the skills and knowledge needed are being transformed in terms of significance and importance. This research uses the European labour database to provide insights into how the occupation of managers is shaped in terms of skills and knowledge in the current digital era. In addition, it explores frequently appearing patterns of skills and knowledge, and provides insights for the skills needed for four distinct categories of managers. The results indicate a strong skill orientation among most subgroups of managers, while the need for lifelong training is highlighted especially for skills that seem more promising when the business environment becomes more digital.