The digital divide in light of sustainable development: An approach through advanced machine learning techniques

Abstract

The growing use of ICT in the workplace has meant that the labor market demands new skills and digital capabilities, either in the production of goods and services or in the need for workers with complementary skills. Concerns about unequal access to new technologies, integrated within the concept of digital divide, has been a topic of study since the use of the Internet began to be generalized among the population. Traditionally, research into the inequalities arising from the emergence of digital technologies has incorporated socioeconomic variables, especially gender, age, educational level, income, and habitat. This study uses advanced data analysis techniques to analyze the main socioeconomic digital skills drivers of the Spanish population. This information allows us to identify whether the population has training needs in relation to their digital competences, which will have a positive influence on improving the level of sustainable development of the country.