Recognising this, ICDL France launched the Tour de France ICDL, a nationwide initiative aimed at meeting partners across regions and fostering dialogue on how to strengthen digital competencies for employability, inclusion, and business competitiveness. The Tour de France ICDL was born from a pressing observation: organisations, regardless of sector, face similar challenges in digital transformation. Today, 75% of jobs require digital skills, yet nearly 60% of workers lack a solid foundation, and 15% of job seekers cite digital technology as their main barrier to employment. This gap is widening as AI accelerates workplace changes, creating risks of exclusion and inefficiency. For businesses, insufficient digital skills translate into lost productivity, up to two hours per employee per weekand heightened vulnerability, with 80% of cyberattacks linked to human error.
Against this backdrop, ICDL France set out to create spaces for exchange and collaboration. Each stage of the Tour brings together companies, training organisations, and public institutions to share best practices, explore local challenges, and co-design solutions. The campaign also celebrates regional commitment through the #TrophéesICDL, honouring accredited centres that champion digital inclusion.
Key Learnings from the Road
Several strong insights have emerged from the discussions:
- Digital skills are no longer optional: They are the foundation for employability, mobility, and competitiveness. Without them, autonomy at work and access to essential services become nearly impossible.
- AI amplifies existing gaps: While 55% of employees use AI tools, often without guidance, these technologies do not compensate for weak fundamentals, they expose them. AI becomes a lever for autonomy only when basic skills are solid.
- Perception vs reality: Three out of four individuals misjudge their digital level, underscoring the need for reliable diagnostics and certifications such as ICDL.
- Time, not cost, is the main barrier: Companies recognise the urgency but struggle to allocate time for training. Flexible formats; micro-learning, multimodal approaches, and workplace learning are gaining traction.
- Inclusion remains critical: Illiteracy and “digital illiteracy” persist, creating a two-speed society. Tailored programmes and progressive pathways, such as Digital Citizen, are essential to bridge the divide.
Looking Ahead
The Tour de France ICDL is more than a series of events, it’s a collective movement to ensure that digital skills become a universal foundation. By diagnosing, training, certifying, and innovating together, ICDL France and its partners aim to build a future where technology empowers rather than excludes. To learn more about ICDL France, click here.
