PROGRAMME 3

DEVELOP AI SKILLS PLAN

Strategy Actions

3.4 Accelerate and scale the availability of knowledge and enablement services from the Data Lab and other partners to help businesses adopt AI 

2.11 We will lead a skills plan to ensure everyone has access to AI learning opportunities in our education system and improve the way businesses use, develop and adopt AI. 

2.12 Support upskilling and reskilling displaced workers and people vulnerable to exclusion 

Year 2 Progress

Digital Economy Skills Action Plan 

Skills Development Scotland launched the Digital Economy Skills Action Plan in March 2023. Developed with partners working across Scotland’s digital economy, the Plan is a call to action to ensure that our workforce has the digital skills required to deliver economic prosperity for all of Scotland’s people and places. These skills are essential across the economy from manufacturing and financial services, to health, food and drink and tourism. There are also foundational to an AI-powered economy. 

The Action Plan shows how diversity and inclusion can help to fill skills gaps facing employers across the digital economy. It aims to ensure that individuals at risk of displacement by technologies such as AI are supported, and that digital economy opportunities are accessible for all. It concentrates on in-demand industry-focused skills and developing a talent pool that is resilient, agile, and responsive.  

The plan prioritises actions at multiple levels, including upskilling and reskilling our workforce, developing digital leadership in SMEs, and creating opportunities for all young people, particularly through work-based learning and apprenticeships. 

AI Skills 

The Skills Problem Discovery Process initiated last year (see State of AI report 21/22) has not yet resulted in a formal AI skills plans due to capacity constraints across the teams and the number of stakeholders involved in this space. This will be addressed this year as we work with industry specialists, training providers and third sector representatives to prioritise and fill the gaps between the skills delivery mechanisms already identified. We will build upon the Digital Economy Skills Action Plan, and use the AI Playbook to build and share sector- and requirement- specific AI learning pathways. In the meantime, we have used the AI Playbook to immediately signpost some of the most helpful AI learning resources already available.