Broadband Subscription, Computer Access, and Labor Market Attachment Across US Metros

This report on the connection between access to broadband and labor force participation across all US metro areas finds that:

• Regional levels of broadband subscription, computer access, and poverty are highly correlated.
• Geography matters: Metro areas with low household broadband subscription and computer access were primarily located in the Southeast and Southwest, while high-connectivity regions were concentrated in the Northeast and West Coast.
• Across US metros, prime-age workers (people aged 25–54) with a broadband-enabled computer participate in the labor force at a much higher rate than prime-age workers without such access.

This study is part of their Research in Action Lab dedicated to expanding broadband infrastructure to unserved residents, increasing broadband subscription in low and moderate-income communities, and developing digital literacy among workers to bridge the digital divide.