Digital use linked to higher employment and earnings for women, global study finds – Texas A&M Stories

Women who use digital technologies are more likely to be employed and tend to earn more than those who do not, according to a new World Bank study co-authored by Dr. Raymond Robertson of Texas A&M University. The analysis also finds the link between digital adoption and employment is stronger for women than for men. 

The findings come as researchers examine whether the digital transition will narrow or widen gender gaps in labor markets. According to the World Bank study, digital use and skills are associated with improved employment outcomes and higher earnings across the dataset analyzed — especially among women.

“Historically, technological change has not always benefited men and women equally,” said Robertson, a professor in the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service and director of the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy. “What this study shows is that the digital transition could help narrow those gaps, but that outcome depends on access to technology and skills.”

Using survey data from approximately 4,500 working-age adults in the Middle East and North Africa, the analysis finds a strong association between digital adoption and employment outcomes. People who use digital technologies — even basic tools such as email, mobile apps or online platforms — are more likely to be employed than those who do not.

The study also finds that the association between digital skills and employment is 26 to 27% stronger for women than for men, suggesting that expanding digital access could play a critical role in increasing female labor force participation in regions where baseline employment is low.

Additionally, among those who are employed, digital use and skills are associated with higher earnings. The association is significantly stronger for women working in administration, education and health services.

Access gaps still limit who benefits

Despite the promise of digital technologies, access remains uneven — and that gap could determine whether the digital transition narrows or widens inequality.

Eighty percent of respondents reported never having worked remotely, and women remain less likely than men to access remote work opportunities, even when they have digital skills. Additionally, digital skills alone do not overcome structural barriers such as workplace rigidity, limited childcare availability and social norms that affect labor force participation.

Expanding access to digital skills training, improving affordability and access to devices and broadband networks and supporting flexible work arrangements and caregiving resources are among the policy considerations Robertson and his co-authors identified as critical to ensuring women are not left behind.