A lack of digital skills in the civil service poses a major risk to the government, according to new research.
In a report published today by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a select committee within the House of Commons that oversees expenditures, it was revealed that only 4.5% of professionals in the civil service are in digital, data and technology roles – less than half of the figure in the private sector.
According to the PAC, the lack of digital skills among public servants means that Whitehall will be “unable to genuinely transform its services”, despite a vocal embrace of new technologies from the government.
The report suggested that some of the digital skills shortages were “self-inflicted” through “counter-productive staffing cuts”, forcing the government to ration out digitally skilled workers between departments.
The PAC noted that requirements for senior leadership in the public sector did not formally include an understanding of digital business, despite its importance to the modern world. The report therefore recommended that digital responsibilities should be included in letters of appointment at senior levels within all government departments.
“Our inquiry has found that Whitehall’s digital services, far from transforming at the pace required, are capable of only piecemeal and incremental change,” said committee chair Dame Meg Hillier MP.
“In particular, a lack of cybersecurity experts should send a chill down the government’s spine.”
“The Government talks of its ambitions for digital transformation and efficiency, while actively cutting the very roles which could help achieve them.”
Hillier added that these skills must “not be treated merely as a sideline, but must sit right at the heart of how government thinks about delivery”.
In July, the government unveiled a plan to bring in “digital gurus” from the private sector to support Whitehall civil servants with expertise in AI and data.