There is a large gap between the demand for and supply of the digital specialists that government needs, and it is hard to get the right balance of in-house and outsourced skills. Government has been excessively reliant on outsourcing and has failed to retain sufficient in-house capability. The Central Digital and Data Office now has responsibility for government’s capability building strategy, but recognises government does not yet have the depth of experience needed to deliver across the fu...

There is a large gap between the demand for and supply of the digital specialists that government needs, and it is hard to get the right balance of in-house and outsourced skills. Government has been excessively reliant on outsourcing and has failed to retain sufficient in-house capability. The Central Digital and Data Office now has responsibility for government’s capability building strategy, but recognises government does not yet have the depth of experience needed to deliver across the full breadth of its digital portfolio. The demand for digital skills is increasing, not just in the public sector but also in the private sector and there Type: conclusion | Number: 6 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: 1. PAC conclusion: The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of departments retaining sufficient capacity to respond to emergencies when identifying potential efficiencies.