This report presents a global overview of the progress made in achieving digital transformation and includes an assessment of the EU's performance relative to Europe’s 2030 objectives and targets, based on four fundamental elements: digital skills, digital infrastructures, digitalisation of companies, integration of artificial intelligence (AI) use, and digitalisation of public services. 

The report calls on Member States to implement collective measures to close current investment gaps, accelerate digital transformation in Europe and intensify efforts to achieve the objectives of the Digital Decade Programme, which came into force on 9 January 2023.

As far as digital skills are concerned, the report shows that, by 2030 and under the current conditions, only 59% of the population will master at least basic digital skills (the target for 2030 is 80%), and the number of ICT specialists may not surpass 12 million (the target for 2030 is 20 million). Member States need to prioritise investments in high-quality education and skills, as well as promote women's participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields from an early age.

The specific annex dedicated to Portugal reveals that, currently, 55% of the population aged between 16 and 74 has at least basic digital skills, while only 29% has digital skills above the basic level. It is also stated that Portugal needs to increase the number of enrolments in ICT (ICT specialists represent 4.5% of total employment and 2.5% of higher education graduates are in the ICT area, slightly below the EU average) and that the percentage of women among ICT specialists is 20.4%, which is above the EU average of 18.9%.

Access the full report and the annexes specific to each country at: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/2023-report-state-digital-decade