Research on the Impact of Employee Skill Upgrading on Digital Transformation of Specialized and Specialized Enterprises

• 1、Business School, Hunan Normal University，Changsha 410081

Abstract：With the advancement of the fourth industrial revolution, digital transformation has become a key strategy for the sustainable development of enterprises. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) generally face the dilemma of insufficient digital professionals in the process of digital transformation. Based on this, this paper uses data from 2017-2022 of specialized, special new listed enterprises to deeply explore the impact of employee skill upgrading on digital transformation of specialized, special new enterprises. It is found that employee skill upgrading significantly promotes the digital transformation of specialized, special and new enterprises, which is achieved through mechanisms such as improving operation and management efficiency, enhancing internal control and alleviating financing constraints. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this effect is more significant in state-owned enterprises, enterprises with lower government subsidies, and enterprises in the east-central region, and that upgrading employee skills reduces the investment in digital assets and promotes the application of digital technology and the effectiveness of transformation. Therefore, specialized and new enterprises should increase investment in employee skill upgrading to meet the challenges of digital transformation and achieve long-term stable development of enterprises.

Keywords： Digital transformation Employee skill upgrading Specialized and new SMEs Digital transformation of specialized and new enterprises