Study Links ICT Access to Lower Youth Unemployment in 166 Countries, With Stronger Gains for Women
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · Oct 31
Study Links ICT Access to Lower Youth Unemployment in 166 Countries, With Stronger Gains for Women
1 articles · Updated · Nature.com · Oct 31
Summary
Data from up to 166 countries over 1991–2022 showed higher internet use, broadband subscriptions and mobile penetration were each associated with lower youth unemployment.
Female youths saw the stronger and more consistent link, suggesting digital access may ease structural barriers that weigh more heavily on young women entering labor markets.
Developing economies showed substantially larger effects than developed ones, indicating higher marginal returns where baseline connectivity is still relatively low.
The authors used cross-national time-series models including two-way fixed effects, panel-corrected standard errors and System GMM, and said the findings support expanding digital infrastructure with gender-sensitive employment policies.