Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – A substantial 62% of employees in Saudi Arabia are eager to acquire improved digital skills in their daily work with computers and other digital devices, a survey conducted by Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company, has revealed.
The findings also exposed a troubling trend, with 45% of respondents expressing concerns about job security due to their perceived lack of IT competencies. A further breakdown of these numbers reveals that 20% believe their job could be at risk within the next five years, while 25% anticipate potential job loss at some point in the future. Only a modest 20% expressed confidence that their job is secure, despite their current IT knowledge.
The survey also highlighted a specific group within the workforce most apprehensive about job security – department heads and top managers. This group appears to be particularly vigilant about the need for ongoing self-education and staying informed about the latest digital trends.
Beyond personal job security, the survey emphasized the broader implications of insufficient digital skills, especially in terms of cybersecurity. It was noted that the “human firewall” plays a pivotal role in defending organizations against cyber threats, with a striking 95% of cybersecurity incidents being attributed to human error. Employees, irrespective of their position within a company, can inadvertently trigger cyber threats by opening phishing links or downloading ransomware, leading to significant financial and reputational losses for their employers.
“Many are afraid of losing their job due to the explosive advancement of AI / ML solutions. While some individuals and organizations are wary of automatization and refrain from using it, others adapt their processes to get the most benefits from the newest technologies,”said Emad Haffar, Head of Technical Experts at Kaspersky. “Employees should be cyber savvy if they want to remain in demand, and companies should help them to tackle digital challenges and develop cybersecurity skills.”