Fig. 5 Source: Eurostat People with age-related dependencies or different abilities need to be empowered to stay active, live independently and avoid institutionalisation. All citizens, including those at risk of exclusion (for example, those with different abilities, low digital literacy/eSkills), need access to smart environments and innovative services. Over the past decade ICT has become integrated in schools, with all pupils having access to computers and the Internet. Yet, building capacity in education remains a challenge. It is important that teachers have the skills to harness eLearning materials. Teaching methods need updating and there must be sufficient digital content for students to gain full advantage of the benefits of ICT. Greater effort is needed to encourage learning among unskilled working-age adults, the elderly and people with disabilities. Those without eSkills risk not reaping benefits from ICT, both in terms of earnings and job prospects. ICT offers great potential to bring the unemployed back into the workforce. graduates from the ICT Institute within MCAST, which is the country’s leading vocational education and training institution, in levels 5 & 6 was 542 graduates. HUMAN CAPITAL Within the ICT labour market, the low female participation rate, the misalignment between the ICT education curriculum and industry needs (such as the lack of specialised skills for the iGaming sector) and the lack of supportive education are serious weaknesses. These are hampering resource capacity, resource readiness and innovation. The industry, both the ICTproducing and the ICT-using sectors, are supported by experienced, efficient, skilled and multi-lingual professionals. In 2012, Eurostat reported that Malta ranked in 23rd position out of the EU27+ in terms of computer skills. Between the 2007 and 2012, the average number of ICT-related graduates from the University of Malta was 151. The highest number of ICT graduates from the University of Malta was registered in 2011 with 197 – a share of 6.8% of all graduates. During the same period, the average number of Work practices are flexible and unit labour costs are generally competitive and responsive to market conditions. These attributes are complemented by a competitive tax regime. The arrival of ‘cheaper’ skilled competitors, particularly from the Baltic region, Eastern Europe and Asia, poses a new threat to the digital industry in Malta. National Digital Strategy 2014 – 2020 15