Department of Labor Seeks to Better Bridge Digital Divide in the Nation’s Workforce

The US Department of Labor (DOL) is considering the essential role of digital skills and broadband in the workforce. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) emphasized that digital skills are key to digital equity in our recent comments in response to DOL’s Digital Literacy and Resilience Request for Information. NDIA’s comments highlighted models of digital skills programs operating within the framework of holistic digital inclusion strategies. NDIA emphasized five overarching points:

• Holistic strategies should be prioritized.
• Digital literacy and resilience are urgently important for adults and youth across their full lifespans and careers.
• Digital skills are dramatically more relevant and powerful when interwoven with other skills.
• DOL should capitalize on the momentum of organizations that already have expertise in teaching adults and have earned the trust of key populations.
• The federal government should better coordinate its investments in digital skills.