Digital competencies of the labor: Sectoral competency demand analysis

The digital competencies of the workforce refer to the abilities of employees to understand, use, and adapt to digital technologies. Having these skills among individuals in the workforce enables businesses to expand their boundaries, gain competitive advantages, and effectively manage their operations. In today's rapidly digitizing work environment, these competencies are becoming increasingly important. In this study, the aim was to analyze the digital skill requirements and demands of four different sectors. As a data collection tool, in-depth interviews were conducted with middle and senior level executives in the automotive, textile, retail, and finance sectors. In these interviews, the average scores given by the sector managers regarding the digital competencies of their workforce, on a scale of 100, were as follows: 87.5 in the automotive sector, 85 in the textile sector, 77.5 in the retail sector, and 86.25 in the finance sector. According to the opinions of professionals working in different sectors, positive progress was determined in terms of the digital skills of the workforce. As a result, it is believed that the findings of this thesis work will guide employers in Turkey to determine which digital competencies they require and provide the necessary guidance and resources for employees to develop these skills through appropriate training.