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The Gender Gap in Digital Skills at Work

Author

Listed:
  • Whelan, Adele

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin)

  • Brosnan, Luke

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin)

  • McGuinness, Seamus

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin)

Abstract

We analyse the gender gap in digital skills use at work across Europe. We find a substantial gap, with women significantly less likely to perform advanced digital tasks. A raw gender gap of around 16 percentage points is observed, of which only 30 per cent is attributable to observable factors. Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions using unconditional decile regressions reveal that the gap is most pronounced at the upper end of the digital intensity distribution, where women are substantially underrepresented. The explained component of the gender digital skills gap increases with digital task intensity, suggesting that access to highly digital jobs is shaped by gendered educational and occupational sorting. However, persistent unexplained gaps from intermediate levels indicate potential structural, cultural, or other organisational barriers at play. Furthermore, we find that younger women already face larger gaps in advanced digital skill use than older workers, suggesting that it is not a legacy issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Whelan, Adele & Brosnan, Luke & McGuinness, Seamus, 2026. "The Gender Gap in Digital Skills at Work," IZA Discussion Papers 18675, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18675
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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