Why don’t you get a job? When lacking online job search skills means fewer job opportunities
- For policymakers
- Summary created: 2025
Inequalities in employment outcomes among Spanish jobseekers are driven by unequal access to online job search skills. Younger candidates with higher educational attainment and greater digital capital are significantly more proficient at searching for jobs online, gaining more visibility on labour platforms, and achieving better results in their online job search.
This summary, including its recommendations and ideas, was created by Stefano De Marco and is based on original research. The original research itself was conducted in collaboration with the following researchers.
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Over the past three decades, the digital divide has evolved from disparities in internet access to inequalities in digital skills and their impact on tangible outcomes. Initially, the focus was on access disparities, but as internet use became widespread, attention shifted to the unequal distribution of digital skills, which are crucial for translating internet use into beneficial outcomes.
Research has shown that individuals with higher education and greater socioeconomic resources tend to possess stronger digital skills and to engage in more advanced forms of internet use. These skills provide tangible benefits in their daily lives, thereby increasing their material resources. This has led to a third-level digital divide, in which those with more resources derive greater benefits from digitalization, reinforcing social stratification.
In Spain, a country characterized by high unemployment and extensive internet use for job searching, this dimension of digital inequality is particularly relevant. Job seekers face a highly competitive market with limited job openings, especially for lower-qualified workers. In this context, candidates with higher levels of online job search skills may gain greater visibility when applying for jobs, which in turn may lead to the exclusion of individuals with fewer material resources and digital skills.
This study addresses existing gaps in the literature by examining the relationship between offline resources, digital capital, and online job search skills, focusing on how these factors influence job search outcomes. Previous research has primarily concentrated on self-confidence and specific strategies within particular groups, leaving a gap in understanding the broader distribution of online job search skills and their overall impact on employment outcomes
Key findings
Online job search skills significantly influence the likelihood of being invited for an interview, more so than general digital skills.
Evidence
The study found that online job search skills had the highest standardized coefficient (β= 0.52, p=0,000) in predicting interview invitations, surpassing the impact of general digital skills and digital capital.
What it means
This highlights the importance of domain-specific skills in achieving positive job search outcomes, suggesting that interventions should focus on developing these specific skills.
Digital capital positively correlates with online job search skills, but its impact diminishes when specific job search skills are considered.
Evidence
While digital capital indicators like the number of devices (β=0.12; p<.001) and autonomy of use (β=0.21; p<.001) were positively related to online job search skills, their significance decreased when online job search skills were included in the model for interview invitations.
What it means
This suggests that while digital capital is important, specific job search skills are more critical for securing interviews, indicating a need for targeted skill development.
Socio-demographic factors such as age and education influence online job search skills and outcomes.
Evidence
Age negatively affected both online job search skills and interview invitations (β=-0.10; p<.001), while higher education levels were positively related to both skills (β=0.09; p=.006) and interview invitations (β=0.09; p<.001).
What it means
These findings underscore the role of socio-demographic factors in digital inequalities, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to address these disparities.
Contrary to expectations, women exhibited higher online job search skills and were more frequently invited for interviews than men.
Evidence
Being female was positively associated with online job search skills (β=0.11; p<.001) and interview invitations (β=0.07; p=.004), contradicting the hypothesis that women would face disadvantages.
What it means
This challenges assumptions about gender disparities in digital skills, suggesting that women may possess or develop specific skills that enhance their job search success.
Economic resources did not consistently predict online job search skills or interview invitations.
Evidence
Weighted income showed a negative relationship with online job search skills (β=0.16; p<.001) and lost significance in predicting interview invitations when online job search skills were considered.
What it means
This finding questions the assumption that higher income leads to better digital skills, indicating that other factors may play a more significant role in skill development and job search success.
Proposed action
Promoting online job search training within schools, vocational training, and employment programs
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