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The world is moving forward and it is increasingly important to have access to quality internet and the necessary devices to do so.
In this context, we understand the digital divide as the difference in opportunities for people to access ICT and the Internet. In a reality as technology-dependent as the one we live in today, this is a problem to be taken into account.
Technology affects all aspects of daily life, including work. The difficulty of understanding and accessing it marks differences between employees, reducing the chances of finding a job for those who lag behind in its adoption.
What is the definition of the digital divide?
Technological advances have changed the way we relate to each other, and also the way we work. Its applications are having a very positive impact in different areas and the trend is to move towards an increasingly digitized world.
People's lives are easier with technology. It is now possible to have a job without having to go to a physical office or talk in real time with a person who lives hours away. The people most affected by the digital divide are not benefiting from these advances as much as they should.
The gap between those who have access to the Internet and these technologies is widening. Many cannot keep up with the pace of their own development and risk being at a serious disadvantage compared to those who embrace technological developments.
This difference in access to information technologies can be perceived as something negative. The great challenge is to reduce the digital divide and make ICTs and the Internet available to all. They are no longer a luxury, but a necessity in our society.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) pointed out in a 2021 study that 2,900 people in the world have never accessed the Internet. It stresses that the connection capacity is still unequal on the planet and that the pandemic has boosted the deployment of the network.
Types of digital divide
Most studies agree that there are up to three types according to their characteristics:
- Access divide. This refers to the difference in the possibilities of having access to information technologies. It is usually determined by socioeconomic differences.
- Usage gap. This is determined by the lack of competencies and skills to use these tools. A very frequent barrier in this type is the age of its users or their educational level.
- Quality of use gap. It is possible to have access to technology and have competencies for its use but not be able to make good use of it. These are people who cannot get quality content on the web and do not get the most out of it.
There are also these differences in access to technology for the following reasons:
- Age. It affects more people over 50 years old.
- Gender. Women are the most disadvantaged in this regard.
- Social and Economic. Purchasing power marks a barrier to access to information technologies.
- Disability. Although the web is becoming increasingly accessible, people with physical or mental disabilities have more obstacles to use these technologies.
- Language. Most online knowledge is in English, which is an impediment for people without basic English skills.
How does the digital divide affect the world of work?
The covid-19 has meant a before and after in our lives. Many things will never go back to the way they were before or will take time to return to their status quo. Remarkable changes have taken place in the work environment, giving rise to new realities such as telecommuting, hybrid work or smart working.
New ways of communicating have also been incorporated, such as video calls, which require high bandwidth to work properly.
These new models, while representing a revolution, have further highlighted the existence of a digital divide. Inequalities are becoming more marked for those who do not have a quality connection and/or the necessary tools to do their work flexibly.
Just before the pandemic, in 2019, the OECD noted that 32% of workers were going to undergo major changes in their jobs in the short term. This implied the acquisition of new digital skills that not everyone could take on.
In Spain, the adoption of the so-called ICT Employment and the adoption of new technologies is behind countries such as Trinidad and Tobago or Peru according to the Network Readiness Index 2021. It is a ballast that is difficult to get rid of when it comes to digital transformation.
The European Union estimates that 45% of jobs in 2022 will be in a digital environment, which will create 200,000 new jobs in Spain. Acquiring skills in technologies is essential to adapt to change, a scenario in which it is necessary to reduce the digital divide in order to be more competitive.
In short, workers without digital skills, quality internet connection and electronic devices are at a disadvantage in this new labor market. Most applications are now being opened online, so there are people who do not have access to these.
Differences by age
One of the most heard concepts in Human Resources in recent months is 'ageism'. It refers to the discrimination suffered by many employees who, despite having job skills, are discriminated against for being older than desired by employers.
Age is also a variable to be taken into account in the digital divide. The study Impact of digitalization on people by the Seres Foundation points out that only 35% of people between 55 and 74 years of age have basic digital skills.
People over 45 have serious problems finding work partly due to this reality. It is a structural problem especially for those over 50, as 50.2% of the long-term unemployed are in this age segment.
Differences by place of residence
The postal code marks differences in access to digital work. There are areas where access connections are of poor quality. Teleworking from these areas is not an option, so candidates residing in these areas are less employable than those living in areas with better technical facilities.
One of the big problems of Empty Spain is precisely this access gap. In rural areas, not only is it difficult to access fiber, but sometimes even 3G does not reach, let alone 4G or 5G.
In Spain, 11 million people live in municipalities of less than 10,000 inhabitants. This figure shows the scale of the problem.
There is not only a big difference in access between rural and urban areas. There is also a big difference within the cities themselves. Thus, in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods, where infrastructures are less well maintained, access to technology and the network is more limited than in wealthy areas.
What can be done to reduce it?
The speed at which the labor market is changing requires solutions to bridge the digital divide. Not having a good internet connection or the necessary technology is creating serious labor inequalities.
The answer to this problem is to ensure equal access to communication technologies. This requires the following:
- Cheap and quality Internet. The place of residence and income level determine access to the network for millions of people. This implies investment in infrastructure.
- Technical devices. Although the use of cell phones is growing all over the world, there are millions of households without a laptop computer.
- Education. Providing people with the information they need to make effective use of the network. Training programs for people without resources can make a difference.
- Participation. Empower users and give them an active role in change. Giving a voice to people who now have more difficulty accessing ICTs in order to build a new reality.
In Spain, the Digital Skills axis of the Digital Spain 2025 Plan is underway to provide people and SMEs with skills. A government initiative that establishes a total of 50 measures to put an end to this inequality of access.
The digital divide, everyone's problem
There are many factors that make access to the Internet and information technologies more difficult. The so-called digital divide is not only determined by purchasing power, but also by age, place of residence, digital skills or even language.
To alleviate this situation, it is necessary to invest heavily in infrastructure to ensure access to the network. Even more so, considering that the majority of job offers are published online and that teleworking is a growing trend these days.
