Disconnected: How Digital Gaps Fuel Poverty and Unemployment
While technology has transformed industries and lives, it has also widened the gap for those without access. This research examines how digital shortages perpetuate poverty and unemployment, shedding light on the urgent need for inclusive solutions in today’s job market.
In today’s rapidly changing job market, young people face a triple threat: rising unemployment rates, financial barriers, and a lack of access to essential digital tools. This research explores how digital shortages perpetuate poverty and unemployment, while highlighting actionable solutions to bridge these gaps.
Together, we can create equitable opportunities for all and empower the next generation to thrive in a digital-first economy.
What Can Be Done? Solutions for Bridging the Digital Gap
This data comes from education reform research, employer hiring expectations, and workforce development strategies.
Sources: UK Digital Strategy 2024 – Government Policy Report, Institute for Employment Studies – UK Digital Workforce Report (2024), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – Employer Digital Training Expectations (2024)
Key Findings
Employers must focus on apprenticeships & in-house training programs.
Schools must update their curriculums to include digital literacy & tech-focused education.
The government must provide better access to free training & digital inclusion initiatives.
What this means:
Closing the digital skills gap requires action from schools, businesses, and the government. Without urgent reforms, the UK will struggle to compete in a global digital economy.
Most In-Demand Digital Skills vs. What Young People Actually Learn
This graph is based on job market trends, employer skill gap reports, and education studies.
Sources: World Economic Forum – Future of Jobs Report (2024), Tech Nation – Digital Skills Gap Report (2023), UK Department for Education – Digital Curriculum Overview (2024)
Key Findings
Employers want AI, cybersecurity, and coding skills, but most students aren’t taught them.
There’s a major gap between digital skill demand and what young people are learning in schools.
Employers struggle to find digitally skilled workers, leading to more job shortages in tech fields.
What this means:
Closing the digital skills gap requires action from schools, businesses, and the government. Without urgent reforms, the UK will struggle to compete in a global digital economy.
The Digital Divide: How Many Students Lack Access to Technology?
3.7 million families in the UK lack basic internet access, leaving young people at a disadvantage in today’s digital-first job market.
This data comes from UK education inequality reports, digital access studies, and school technology surveys.
Sources: UK Digital Divide Study (2024) – Good Things Foundation, Ofcom – UK Broadband & Connectivity Report (2024), Education Policy Institute – Digital Learning in UK Schools (2024)
High-demand industries:
60% of students have full digital access (laptops, broadband, and digital learning tools).
25% have limited access, sharing devices or experiencing poor connectivity.
15% have no access to laptops, Wi-Fi, or IT education at school or home.
What this means:
Without access to technology, students face a major disadvantage in their future careers. More funding is needed for free laptops, broadband support, and better IT resources in schools.
Career Preparedness: Students with vs. without Digital Access
Students with personal laptops & broadband: More likely to succeed in digital careers, STEM fields & online learning.
Students without access to technology: More likely to struggle with digital literacy, online applications & career progression.
Schools with strong IT programs: Higher rates of university admissions & career placements in tech-heavy industries.
Schools with poor digital infrastructure: Widening gaps in tech-related career readiness.
This data is based on education workforce reports, school digital investment studies, and student career surveys. With the right investments in digital infrastructure, we can close this gap and empower the next generation.
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics – Digital Access & Learning Report (2024), Digital Poverty Alliance – UK Digital Access Report (2024), UK Youth Futures Foundation – Career Readiness & Digital Learning (2024)
How Digital Access Impacts Future Job Readiness:
80% of students with full digital access feel career-ready & secure better job opportunities.
Only 40% of students without digital access feel prepared for work, struggling with job applications & digital skills.
What this means:
The digital divide creates major inequalities in career readiness. Schools, employers, and policymakers must work together to provide equal tech access to all students.
Youth Unemployment Rate Across Hertfordshire, Essex & Suffolk (2024)
Overall, youth unemployment has increased by 23% compared to the previous year.
In October to December 2024:
16.0% of men aged 16-24 were unemployed, compared to 4.5% for all men aged 16+.
13.5% of women aged 16-24 were unemployed, compared to 4.2% for all women aged 16+.
This graph is based on regional employment reports, government statistics, and national labor trends.
Hertfordshire:14% – Slightly below the national youth unemployment average.
Essex:16% – Higher than Hertfordshire, indicating fewer job opportunities for young people.
Suffolk:15% – Unemployment remains a challenge, especially in rural areas.
What this means:
With youth unemployment rates rising, more support is needed in: – Providing financial aid for job seekers (e.g., transport, work-related expenses). – Expanding apprenticeship & training opportunities in high-demand industries. – Encouraging SMEs to hire young workers through government-backed grants.
The Digital Divide & Employment InequalityOverall, youth unemployment has increased by 23% compared to the previous year. In October to December 2024:
Young people without digital skills face higher unemployment rates than their tech-savvy peers.
Those trained in digital skills (coding, cybersecurity, digital marketing) have more job opportunities & higher salaries.
Industries like fintech, AI, and e-commerce are booming, but young people who lack digital access are being left behind.
This data comes from employment reports, digital literacy impact studies, and government labor market statistics.
Sources: UK Labour Market Report (2024) – Office for National Statistics (ONS), McKinsey & Company – Workforce Digital Transformation Study (2023-2024), Institute for Employment Studies – Digital Inclusion & Youth Work Readiness (2024)
What this means:
Digital skills are no longer optional. Students who don’t have them risk being shut out of the fastest-growing job sectors. Schools, training providers, and governments must work together to upskill young people for the future job market.
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