SECRETARIES AND THE 21ST CENTURY DIGITAL SKILLS FOR DECENT WORK IN A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

Abstract

The development of technology has signalled a future workforce that is more knowledgeable, versatile and productive. Employers of labour are currently on the lookout for secretaries with digital skills that could participate in knowledge economy. This paper is a literature review on secretaries‟ and the 21^st Century Digital skills for decent work in a knowledge economy. The paper defined the concepts of secretaries‟ 21^st Century digital skills, knowledge economy, and decent work. More so, the paper clearly explained the importance of 21^st Century digital skills to secretaries in a knowledge economy and ways of improving secretaries‟ digital skills. It was therefore concluded that if the 21^st century digital skills acquisition are embedded in education and training of secretaries, it will enable them to secure decent work in the digital economy, whether as technology specialists, leaders of digitally-enabled businesses or workers in digitally-enabled jobs across the economy. It was recommended that the curriculum used for the training of secretaries should be reviewed.

 

Keywords: Secretary, 21^st Century Digital Skills, Decent work and Knowledge Economy