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Dutch have Some of the Best ICT Skills in Europe

A survey done by the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) in all 28 EU countries has revealed when it comes to Information and Communication Technology, only people from Denmark and Luxemburg are better than those in the Netherlands.

More than 40% of the Dutch between the ages of 16 and 75 years are well-versed in using PC’s and the Internet. The European average is 30%. Many eastern European countries, but also countries like France and Italy, scored lower than 30%.

The high scores in the top 3 countries are ascribed to the fact that almost everyone in Denmark, Luxemborg and the Netherlands have access to a computer and the Internet. The survey was done in 2015.

However, when it comes to using software it seems the Dutch are less proficient. Only half have more than the basic skills to work with, for example, processing programmes and making presentations. A fifth of Dutch users have no software skills at all!

The level of skills differ across age and the level of education. Among young people the percentage of people with more-than-basic ICT skills are six times higher than that of older users. Among those with a higher level of education it is three times higher than those with a lower level of education. There is little difference between male and female users.

In the area of information – such as doing searches on the Internet, moving files and saving photos in the “Cloud” – about 80% of the Dutch have more-than-basic skills. Same goes for communication (emailing, social media, calling via the Internet) and online services such as shopping, installing apps and doing online courses.

WUP 9/8/2016
by Anesca Smith
©WUAS Press