Digital literacy as an element of developing the professional potential of the elderly population

Increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates are leading to demographic aging of the population and a corresponding increase in the number of older employees. It is particularly important to develop the professional potential of the population in this age group. In conditions of accelerating technological progress, digitalization of the economy, automation of routine operations in production, the emergence of language generative models, and the spread of remote forms of employment, it is the development of digital competencies as an integral element of the professional potential of older employees that is becoming a key problem of the main economic agents in the labor market. This article presents the results of a statistical assessment of the level of digital competencies of the older population and the level of age-related technophobia. Separate aspects of digitalization in the workplace (remote employment) and digital competencies (the need for knowledge in the field of IT) are analyzed. It is revealed that the Russian Federation has a high level of digital technology proficiency. This level has age-specific characteristics. The younger population is optimistic about ICT, while the older generation is moderate in their assessments and rather does not experience the impact of new technology on their lives. There are still limited opportunities for remote employment in the workplace, and with age, employees feel less need to improve their own digital literacy, which may be related to their employment structure (employment in non-technological industries).

digital competencies, information and communication technology, older age group population, technological ageism, technophobia, technology adoption model