Understanding digital skills in Munich
Discussions on the future of work rarely escape the realm of speculation. And as rapid technological progress—coupled with demographic changes—deepens uncertainty in the labor market, there’s immense pressure for governments, companies and individuals to react to change quickly. But preparing for the future depends on understanding what is really happening in the labor market today, and any debate on the future of work should be grounded in fact and analysis. The Economic Graph, a digital representation of the global labor market based on LinkedIn data, helps make this possible, and enables stronger, more concrete foundations for decision-making.
In partnership with the city of Munich’s Department of Labor and Economic Development and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, we took a look at the state of digital skills in Munich’s job market, based on the +660 thousand LinkedIn members and +76 thousand companies in Munich.
Munich: A tech magnet
Good news for Munich: the city is well positioned in terms of digital skills. Nearly a quarter of Munich-based LinkedIn members list advanced tech skills like programming languages, software development and machine learning while almost a third of members list applied tech skills like web design or social media skills. It’s clear that these skills are locally in high demand, as members with these skills change jobs four times more frequently than members without these skills.
Digital literacy is a fundamental skill set needed for professionals across every industry, but it isn’t yet evenly distributed. Unsurprisingly, it’s concentrated in the information and communication sectors, followed by the manufacturing sector—the “engine of Munich’s economy.” Notably, there is the lack of digital literacy among Munich’s professionals in socially-critical sectors like education and health.
Women poorly positioned
Another finding of note is that only seven percent of Munich-based LinkedIn members possess advanced tech skills are women. This is a clear instance where women are not set up for success in terms of having in-demand and high-value skills, relative to men. While this finding is no bombshell, our study highlights the extent to which women are lagging behind in precisely those critical areas needed to keep up in the labor market.
The Economic Graph reflects the current situation, trends and developments in the global workforce, and can be used to understand the direction the labor market is headed. The Munich study is our first Government partnership in Germany, with many more to follow. We look forward to continuing to play our role in addressing the challenges of the future of work and leveraging the Economic Graph to help stakeholders in Germany better prepare for that future.
To view the full report click here. Please note that at this time the full report is only available in German.
