Pew survey: majority of Americans use the Internet to find work

Pew Research Center released the results of a survey that found many Americans rely on the Internet when looking for work in the modern economy. The new survey,“Searching for Work in the Digital Era,” finds that 54 percent of adults in the U.S. have looked for job information online, 45 percent have applied for a job online, and American job-seekers are “just as likely to have turned to the internet during their most recent employment search as to their personal or professional networks.”

The survey’s key findings:

• The internet is a top resource for many of today’s job hunters: Among Americans who have looked for work in the last two years, 79% utilized online resources in their most recent job search and 34% say these online resources were the most important tool available to them

• Like many other aspects of life, job seeking is going mobile: 28% of Americans have used a smartphone as part of a job search, and half of these “smartphone job seekers” have used their smartphone to fill out a job application

• Even as digital job seeking skills have become increasingly important, a minority of Americans would find it challenging to engage in tasks such as creating a professional resume, using email to contact potential employers, or filling out a job application online

• Many Americans now use social media to look for and research jobs, share employment opportunities with friends, and highlight their skills to potential employers; 13% of social media users say their social media presence has helped them find a job

The survey results reiterate the importance of broadband access for all. As more Americans look for work on the Internet and more employers expect their employees to have access at home, the relationship between modern communications technology and full participation in the economy becomes clear – and the need for universal access more important.

Searching for Work in the Digital Era (Pew Research Center, Nov. 19, 2015)