Uzbekistan’s digital skills gap starts with… failing to copy a file

Almost two in five surveyed workers in Uzbekistan say they need help copying or moving a file on a phone or computer, despite near-universal internet access. A World Bank report suggests that basic digital skills could determine who benefits from artificial intelligence — and who struggles to adapt.

The difference is especially noticeable among clerical support workers. Almost 60% reported being unable to copy a file without assistance, while roughly 80% work in jobs that involve medium or high levels of AI. Only 27% stated that they used AI at work, according to the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Economic Update. 

Drawing on its Listening to Uzbekistan household survey and estimates of occupational exposure to AI, the findings highlight a practical challenge for the country’s technology ambitions: getting people online does not automatically equip them to use digital tools effectively.

Read more: Uzbekistan launches initiative to train one million people in AI

Connected, but not necessarily prepared

Across employed respondents, 39% reported needing help copying or moving a file. This was a self-reported measure of a specific skill, rather than a comprehensive test of digital competence.

AI use also varied sharply by occupation. Almost half of professionals — 48% — reported using it at work, followed by 43% of managers. Both groups were substantially ahead of clerical support workers, despite the latter’s high exposure.

The authors cautioned that weak digital skills explain only part of the gap between potential and actual use. Some workers in occupations with little measured exposure, including agricultural work, nevertheless reported using AI.

Read more: EU and UNDP train Uzbek civil servants in data and AI

How to bridge the gap

The World Bank has recommended that Central Asia prioritise basic digital literacy and business data systems before specialised AI training. Advanced instruction delivers limited benefits until those foundations are in place, it argues.

Uzbekistan is already investing in advanced capabilities, including an AI cluster at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies. The report’s findings suggest that wider workforce training will be essential for translating such investments into improvements in everyday workplace conditions.