Improving Digital Competences of Persons with Disabilities as a Precondition for an Inclusive Digital Economy: Evidence from Serbia

Lazić, Milena and Vukmirović, Valentina (2022) Improving Digital Competences of Persons with Disabilities as a Precondition for an Inclusive Digital Economy: Evidence from Serbia. In: 4th Virtual international conference Path to a Knowledge Society-Managing Risks and Innovation PaKSoM 2022. Complex System Research Centre ; Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Niš ; Belgrade, pp. 389-394. ISBN 978-86-82602-00-2

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Abstract

In a digitally-driven world with a constant need for digital workers, policymakers and organizations are focusing on digital labor as an employment strategy. Digital labor is characterized by the production of value which results from the interaction with ICTs, such as digital entrepreneurship and digital platforms. Entrepreneurship in digital platforms offers flexible work arrangements in terms of timetable and workplace. This employment opportunity is especially beneficial for persons who face physical barriers in the workplace or have to adapt the pace of work to their needs, such as persons with disabilities (PWDs). In Serbia, PWDs face high and tenacious unemployment rates. They result from workplace discrimination, unperformed assessment of work-related functional abilities, unfavorable socioeconomic background, and lack of professional skills. Despite the fact that creators of labor market policies in Serbia have introduced initiatives which should help in developing digital professional skills among PWDs, they are still very few. Besides, these initiatives mostly offer basic digital competences trainings for PWDs, which are not sufficient for gaining employment in the digital labor market. This paper shows that there is a need to understand whether PWDs perceive digital self-employment through digital entrepreneurship and digital platforms as a viable solution for the unemployment issue they face. This information can help create new training initiatives that would put the knowledge acquired to practical use.

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