Over 40 million Americans lack broadband access, including more than 22% in rural areas and 27% on tribal lands. During the pandemic, there were countless stories about how the lack of internet service hampered families’ ability to cope. And the consequences of disconnected citizens persist today.
The federal government is taking steps to bridge the digital divide and provide all Americans with dependable internet access. The American Rescue Plan offers more than $25 billion for high-speed internet infrastructure and adoption, $65 billion for access, and $73 billion in grants to help individuals and families cover the monthly cost of internet service. And the Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion in grants for states, territories, and tribal governments to implement digital equity projects.
Unfortunately, ensuring internet access and affordability is only half the challenge of closing the digital divide. The other half is providing users with the skills they need to take advantage of new opportunities.
Digital literacy plays a key role
Although technology is pervasive in today’s world, 60% of Americans cannot answer basic digital literacy questions. “Digital literacy” is much more than being able to use smartphones or social media. Even young Americans born in the digital age are not immune to digital literacy issues. Digital literacy means:
- Having the skills to live, learn, and work in a society where jobs require knowledge of and comfort with computers
- Having the digital familiarity to access information and services
- Being prepared to protect against online risks, such as fraud, identity theft, and misinformation.
Simply having a job is not always enough to provide for one’s family, and employers’ expectations for entry-level workers are increasing. A new report from the National Skills Coalition found that 92% of jobs require digital skills. The report also found that strong demand for digital skills exists in every industry and occupation — including entry-level and frontline positions. Unfortunately, this is disproportionately affecting workers of color, low-income individuals, and rural residents because of historical underinvestment and structural inequities.
Those lacking digital literacy are consequently disqualified from gainful employment and other opportunities. While the US unemployment rate is just 3.5%, underemployment — people unwillingly working in low-skill and low-paying jobs because they cannot get full-time jobs that use their skills — is almost twice as high at 6.6%.
Those underemployed with low-wage jobs face the most significant obstacles to upskilling due to cost, inflexible work hours, limited free time, and employers less likely to invest in learning opportunities. This lack of opportunity perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as individuals cannot gain the skills needed to move into higher paying jobs.
How governments are delivering digital assistance
The good news is that there are ways to change the trajectory — and government agencies, together with technology partners, can play a pivotal role. States are pioneering ways to deliver digital assistance. For instance, the State of Hawaii’s public library system has deployed an online platform called Skill Finder. With more than 1,500 online courses in 17 categories, it provides accessible, practical courses to help residents upskill or reskill to secure a job, advance in their career, or build their own business. Skill Finder is free and available to all residents, easily accessible, and emphasizes short-term credentialing, micro-learning, flexibility, and self-pacing to assist workers with limited time.