In the modern U.S. labor market, digital infrastructures strongly influence how individuals locate opportunities, build skills, and advance wages. Regional differences in computing access, broadband coverage, and digital literacy have significant labor implications for equity and sustainability. Drawing on longitudinal data from the NLSY97 (National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth) cohort, this study examines how place-based technological factors, personal demographics, household characteristics, and education shape income levels and decisions to seek new employment. The regression analyses reveal that educational attainment, marital status, and frequency of Internet usage strongly predict both wages and individuals' job-seeking intensity. Regional disparities in income underscore the need for more localized interventions to ensure equitable access to technology. This study raises key questions about how digital infrastructures can reinforce or challenge systemic inequalities in underserved communities.
翻译:在现代美国劳动力市场中,数字基础设施深刻影响个人寻找机会、提升技能和增加收入的途径。计算设备获取、宽带覆盖和数字素养的区域差异对劳动力市场的公平性与可持续性产生显著影响。本研究基于NLSY97(全国青年纵向调查)队列的纵向数据,探讨了基于地域的技术因素、个人人口特征、家庭背景及教育水平如何影响收入水平与求职决策。回归分析表明,教育程度、婚姻状况和互联网使用频率对工资水平及个人求职强度具有显著预测作用。收入的区域差异凸显了需要更具针对性的地方干预措施,以确保技术获取的公平性。本研究提出了关键问题:数字基础设施如何可能加剧或挑战服务不足社区中的系统性不平等。