OLDER WORKERS’ DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS BY DIGITAL SKILL USE PATTERNS IN THE UNITED STATES
2024

Digital Skills of Older Workers in the U.S.

Sample size: 1700 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Yamashita Takashi, Narine Donnette, Chidebe Runcie, Cummins Phyllis, Kramer Jenna, Karam Rita

Primary Institution: University of Maryland Baltimore County

Hypothesis

Older workers have lower digital problem-solving skills than younger workers.

Conclusion

Older workers who frequently use digital tools tend to have better problem-solving skills and are more likely to be younger, women, college-educated, and higher income earners.

Supporting Evidence

  • Ubiquitous ICT users scored higher in digital problem-solving skills than infrequent users.
  • 25% of ubiquitous users engaged in virtual discussions at work compared to only 3% of infrequent users.
  • Ubiquitous users were more likely to be younger, women, college-educated, and higher income earners.

Takeaway

This study found that older people who use technology a lot are better at solving problems with it, and they tend to be younger and more educated.

Methodology

Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups based on ICT use patterns among older workers.

Participant Demographics

Workers aged 50 years and older from the U.S.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.3103

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