ICT Skill Disparities across Europe: The Role of Contextual Determinants

Despite the growing importance of ICT skills, little is known about how structural contexts are associated with cross-national differences in adults’ ICT proficiency. Using PIAAC data linked with macro-indicators for 19 European countries, the authors examine five contextual domains: ICT infrastructure, ICT services, adult education, labor market demand, and gender inequality. Multilevel analyses show that ICT infrastructure and skill demand are most strongly associated with proficiency. Adult education is linked mainly to higher proficiency among the highly educated, while ICT services and gender inequality show no consistent associations. Contextual influences are stratified: less-educated adults benefit most in contexts of high skill demand, whereas highly educated adults are more strongly associated with adult education systems. These findings identify structural conditions linked to digital skill disparities and inform inclusive digital policy.