ERIC Number: EJ1484631
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0260-1370
EISSN: EISSN-1464-519X
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Digital Skills Use Profiles among Older Workers in the United States: A Person-Centered Approach
Takashi Yamashita1; Donnette Narine1,2; Adeola Ojomo1; Runcie C. W. Chidebe3,4; Phyllis A. Cummins4; Jenna W. Kramer5; Rita Karam6; Thomas J. Smith7
International Journal of Lifelong Education, v44 n5 p522-540 2025
Considering the digitalisation of the workplace and increasingly crucial digital skill proficiency in the technology-rich labour market, the objectives of the present study are to develop digital skill use profiles and to identify specific individual characteristics that are linked with digital skill use patterns among older workers in the United States. However, relatively little is known about older workers' digital skill use patterns and skill use opportunity structures. Data of the U.S. older workers (age 50 years and older; n = 1,670) were obtained from the 2012/2014/2017 International Assessment of the Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Latent class analysis -- a form of person-centred approach that identifies subgroups based on distinctive digital skill use patterns, showed that there were two underlying subgroups of older workers, including more frequent and less frequent digital skill users. More frequent users practiced a greater variety of digital skills both at work and outside of work than their counterparts. Also, logistic regression analysis showed that higher digital skill proficiency and full-time employment (vs. part-time) were associated with belonging to the more frequent digital skill use subgroup. The digital skill use profiles of U.S. older workers, subgroup characteristics, and implications for adult education and labour policies are evaluated.
Descriptors: Digital Literacy, Older Adults, Older Workers, Individual Characteristics, Occupational Information, Adults
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Related Records: ED664791
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A200261
Department of Education Funded: Yes
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA; 2Gerontology Doctoral Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA; 3Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA; 4Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA; 5RAND Corporation, Arlington, VA, USA; 6RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA; 7Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA

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