THE INCREASE IN DIGITAL LITERACY OF THE POPULATION AND THE IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT IN THE ERA OF SMART TECHNOLOGY.

Abstract

This article examines the critical interplay between the rising digital literacy of populations and the evolving landscape of employment in the age of smart technologies—Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and automation. We argue that digital literacy has transcended its status as a complementary skill to become a fundamental determinant of employability, economic resilience, and social inclusion. The research analyzes digital literacy not merely as the ability to use software, but as a multi-layered competency encompassing functional operation, critical understanding, and creative participation in digital ecosystems. The study incorporates perspectives from labor economics, educational policy, and digital sociology, concluding that strategic, inclusive efforts to elevate population-wide digital literacy are not merely an educational goal but a core economic imperative and a cornerstone of sustainable development in the 21st century.