East Hartford Digital Access Survey Report

How does limited access to the internet and computers impact employment in a community?  Quite a lot, especially if that access is restricted to smaller, hand-held devices, according to a recent survey led by East Hartford Works as the convening member of the Federal Reserve Bank’s Reinventing Our Communities team here in East Hartford. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia launched the Reinventing Our Communities Cohort Program in 2020 to focus on maximizing employment and equitable workforce recovery following COVID-19.

East Hartford Works and the Reinventing Our Communities team members worked with the East Hartford Public Library, the school district, adult education department, and CT Department of Labor to distribute the survey and also shared it widely on town social media. 802 responses were collected between January and February of this year, with a primary focus on respondents ages 18-33, when most adults are establishing their careers.  We found that 28% of respondents in this age group rely solely on their cell phone to access the internet – and we also learned English is not the primary language for more than half of those respondents with only a cell phone. Even without language barriers, barriers like data limits on phone plans – and the fact employers often don’t have mobile-friendly job applications – can make it incredibly difficult to design a resume or apply to jobs on only a cell phone.  This lack of digital access can make it hard to connect with resources that are designed specifically to help this group of prime working age job seekers. 

Read more HERE to learn more about the need for digital equity and see our full survey results.