As digitalisation transforms labour markets worldwide, preparing students with relevant digital skills has become a strategic educational priority. This study of cross-institutional learning of university and secondary schools explores the digital readiness of secondary school students for entering the modern workforce through an educational project that involved them not only as research participants, but also as co-researchers. The aim is to assess students’ self-reported competencies in key digital domains and to compare them with the requirements of real job postings targeting school graduates. A quantitative methodology was used, combining an anonymous online questionnaire survey conducted among 395 secondary school students in the Žilina region with a content analysis of 15 entry-level job advertisements. The results indicate that students feel confident using basic office applications, with 92% reporting good skills in word processing and 71% in spreadsheets. They also demonstrate solid abilities in email communication, online meetings (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom), and information retrieval. However, 81.6% stated they had little or no experience in programming or website creation, and only a minority felt confident in using digital design tools such as Canva or Photoshop. The analysis of job market expectations revealed a growing demand for both fundamental and more advanced digital skills, including content creation, visual communication, digital collaboration, and cloud-based tools. The comparison highlighted a mismatch between what schools currently teach, and the broader range of skills increasingly sought after in the labour market. Based on the findings, this contribution proposes concrete recommendations for secondary education: to integrate advanced digital skills into the curriculum, expand experiential learning opportunities such as workshops and internships, and strengthen teacher training in digital pedagogy. This student-centred case study not only identifies the key gaps in digital readiness but also demonstrates how involving students in the research process enhances their awareness, motivation, and engagement with digital transformation.

Keywords: Digital skills, secondary education, digital workforce readiness, student research, digital transformation, employability.