INFLUENCE OF DIGITAL SKILLS GAP ON JOB PERFORMANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE WORKERS IN UNIVERSITIES IN IMO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the influence of digital skills gap on the job performance of administrative workers in Universities in Imo state. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. A sample of 317 administrative workers of public universities drawn from a population of 1,065 administrative workers of federal and state universities in Imo State.  The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure. The instrument for data collection was a 50-item researcher developed questionnaire titled: Influence of Digital Skills Gap on Job performance Questionnaire (IDSGJPQ). The instrument was made up of three clusters on 4-point response scales of Very High Extent, High Extent, Low Extent, and Very Low Extent with 4, 3, 2, and 1 rating respectively that addressed the research questions. The face validation of the instruments was carried out by three experts. The internal consistency and the stability aspects of the reliability of the instrument was determined using Pearson Product Moment Correlation which yielded indices of 0.87. The data was collected by the researcher with the help of three research assistants.  Out of 317 copies of the instruments administered, 304 copies representing 96% were returned and used for data analysis. Mean was used to answer the three research questions raised for the study while standard deviation was used to determine the closeness of the responses. T- test statistic was used to test the three null hypotheses that guided the study at 0.05 level of significant. The results showed among others that the word processing skills gap, information processing skills gap and communication skills gap to a very high extent influence job performances of administrative workers in federal and state universities. Based on the results, it was recommended among others that Government and University administration should organize regular seminars and workshops for administrative workers on effective ways of improving their digital skills on the areas mentioned

Keywords:   communication skills, digital skills gap, information, word processing,