Digital Skills and Entrepreneurial Resilience in the Context of Prolonged Economic Uncertainty: An Analysis at the Level of European SMEs
Author:Mirela Ionela Aceleanu, Maria Denisa Vasilescu, Gina Cristina Dimian, Mihaela Maftei and Josef Jablonský
JEL:J24, M21, I25, C10.
DOI:10.24818/EA/2026/72/507
Keywords:digital skills, skills shortages, SMEs, entrepreneurial resilience, generalised ordered logit model.
Abstract:
This paper investigates the perceptions of European SMEs entrepreneurs on the importance of digital skills for business resilience and success in the current context of the “permacrisis”. The main objective is to analyse the factors influencing this perception and to examine the interaction between digital skills and other types of skills (technical, soft and green) in generating economic performance. The study’s findings highlight significant heterogeneity depending on the size of the firm: medium-sized enterprises value digital skills much more than micro-enterprises. The research also confirms the existence of the “twin transition”, demonstrating that firms that prioritise digitalisation are often the same ones that invest in sustainable practices. The results indicate that maximum financial performance is not achieved in isolation, but through the strategic integration of digital skills with technical and social skills, highlighting the need for tailored educational policies.