The Role of Digital Skills in the Long-Term Care Workforce: Insights from European Countries

The proportion of individuals requiring Long-Term Care (LTC) is projected to rise from 11.6% in 2020 to 14.1% in 2070, indicating a 21% increase in the number of people aged 50+ needing LTC over 50 years. Simultaneously, digitalization is changing rapidly, demanding for an adaptation of digital skills. In 2022, the European Commission introduced the European Care Strategy, emphasizing a Skills Partnership within the Pact for Skills to strengthen the LTC sector. By 2023, a Large-Scale Skills Partnership in LTC was launched, aiming to train 60% of the LTC workforce annually by 2030. The European Care Strategy identifies evolving skill requirements, highlighting the need for training in soft and digital skills, specialized knowledge, and person-centered approaches. The paper addresses the digital skills of LTC care workers and managers in ten European countries, focusing on their assessment of the digital skill relevance, competencies levels, and workforce attitudes. Findings reveal a shared understanding of a growing relevance of digitalization in LTC, though relevance assignments of specific digital skills and competence levels vary across countries. The findings underscore the increasing impact of digitalization and the necessity for targeted training to enhance the quality and efficiency of LTC services.