Covid-19 has sent so much of our lives online, and has therefore shone a fresh light on the digital divide that splits society into the haves and have nots.  Whether it’s accessing healthcare, homeschooling children, shopping for essentials, or working remotely, the need to be connected has seldom been greater, and new research from the University of Houston highlights the scale of the digital divide that exists across society.

The study reveals that people with even basic IT skills, such as using spreadsheets or access to email, were far more likely to be employed, even if their job didn’t explicitly require those skills.  Those with more advanced IT skills nearly always earned higher salaries.

“Unemployment and low wages remain pressing societal challenges in the wake of increased automation, more so for traditionally-disadvantaged groups in the labor market, such as women, minorities, and the elderly,” the researchers say. “However, workers who possess relevant IT skills might have an edge in an increasingly digital economy.”

Basic skills

The study makes the case for urgent policy actions to ensure that people have the IT skills needed to access the labor market, especially as so few companies actually provide training to help develop these skills.

“Very few people can get these skills from their employer. Workers are expected to obtain these IT skills themselves, in order to get a job in the first place” the researchers say. “And the less-privileged population they are, the harder time they have obtaining these skills that require computer equipment and internet access.”

This, unfortunately, leaves many people, especially those in under-represented portions of the labor market, out in the cold, especially as the number of job applications are conducted online.

It’s a problem that the researchers believe has been brought to the surface by the pandemic, with computers and broadband access unequally distributed across society, which has resulted in marginalized groups being left behind.

“The digital divide is a major societal problem and will only become more pronounced,” the researchers conclude. “People with basic IT skills will have access to more opportunities, and it is imperative for educational institutions to provide these IT skills, especially in traditionally-disadvantaged populations.”