Today (Monday, 7th March) The Big Issue and YouGov has found that the overwhelming majority of the UK public believes digital access is important in finding and securing a job.
The exclusive research from The Big Issue showed around 91 per cent of people said being able to afford the internet – whether through computers and broadband or smartphones and data – and having the skills to use it was key for those seeking employment.
However, currently, roughly 10 million people in the UK can’t access or use digital technology – which has become the primary platform for recruiting staff across nearly every sector – according to Lloyds Bank research. That is nearly 10 times the amount of job vacancies currently open across the country.
Just four per cent of people said the internet wasn’t important in looking for work, according to the Big Issue commissioned YouGov study which surveyed more than 1,660 adults on February 1st and 2nd.
The poll broke down findings across different ages of respondents and regions of the UK, asking about the importance of the internet in finding a job and also staying up to date on the latest Covid-19 news and guidance.
The poll was carried out days after the Department for Work and Pensions announced that Universal Credit claimants would have just four weeks, reduced from three months, to find a job in their field or face punitive sanctions.