Performance Variations in Digital Talent: Gender-Based Insights from STEM and AI Education Backgrounds

In the digital era, digital talent development has become increasingly vital for organizations and economies to thrive. While much focus has been placed on technical skills, this report emphasizes the often-overlooked role of soft skills in developing digital talent. Through an extensive literature review and data analysis, the study identifies that soft skills are crucial in enhancing digital talent performance. This research explores the factors that influence Digital Talent Performance in Indonesia, specifically comparing the performance levels of male and female digital talents. Data were collected from college students in the Jabodetabek area (cities surrounding Jakarta, Indonesia) using a purposive sampling method, with an online questionnaire distributed to 378 respondents. The study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the collected data using SmartPLS 4.1. software. Key variables examined include Communication Skills, Teamwork, Emotional Intelligence, Academic Achievement, Problem-Solving, Digital Readiness, Digital Skills, Digital Technology, and Digital Talent Performance. Out of the nine hypotheses tested, one was not statistically significant. The results suggest that a combination of both technical and soft skills significantly affects digital talent performance, with important gender-based differences in performance levels emerging from the analysis. This research contributes to understanding Indonesia's complex dynamics of digital talent development. Keywords— digital talent, soft skills, STEM AI, talent performance, digital skill