Digital divide still apparent - 02/2001

The global digital divide is still strongly evident, according to a new report on employment in the information economy around the world.

The International Labor Organization report, entitled 'World Employment Report 2001: Life at Work in the Information Economy', shows that many developing countries remain technologically disconnected.

Countries that do not provide adequate education, that have not developed an affordable telecommunications infrastructure or have not followed a coherent national information and communications technology (ICT) strategy, are being left behind.

Furthermore, while ICT is often flagged as something that can improve the lives of disadvantaged women, the report found that women in developing countries continue to earn less and work at less skilled jobs than their male counterparts. Women are also much less likely to have access to the Internet.

The ILO says that ICT is certainly a means of improving the quality of life of workers in poorer countries but the right policies and institutions need to be in place to bring the potential of ICT to fruition.

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