Quick analysis of data from Pew's ‘Web IQ, Productivity, Being Informed' study from fall 2015. The slides explore the relationship between age and the perceptions of the importance to one's job of different technologies.

1. PERCEIVED JOB-RELATED IMPORTANCE
OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES
Tim Hulley
E: timothyhulley@gmail.com
C: (202)549-1983

2. BACKGROUND

3. Background
This report contains data about the perceived importance of different
technologies to employees. The data was gathered as part of the Pew
Research ‘Web IQ, Productivity, Being Informed’ study, and was downloaded
on March 3, 2016 from the following URL:
http://www.pewinternet.org/datasets/sep-12-18-2014-web-iq-productivity-being-informed/
Study Methodology
 Online probability survey
 Conducted from September 12-18, 2014
 n=535 adults 18 or older who:
 Either use internet or email at least
occasionally OR access the internet on
cell phone, tablet or other handheld
device at least ocassionally
 Are either full-time or part-time employed
 Conducted on behalf of Pew Research by the
GfK Group using its nationally-representative
online panel Knowledge Panel, with a sampling
error of +/- 4.9%.

4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

5. Executive Summary:
 When respondents are asked to indicate the importance to their job of
different technologies, there are clear differences by age.
 Younger respondents are slightly more likely to place importance on newer
technology like cell phones, smartphones, and social networking sites than
older respondents. Conversely, the youngest set is least likely to view landline
phones as important.
 However, this trend does not hold true for all new technologies- though the
Internet and email are seen as the most important technologies across all age
groups, the youngest group of respondents (18-29 year olds) places below
average importance on these two technologies.
 A possible explanation for this is the fact that 18-29 year olds are more likely
to work in the service industry than those aged 30-54, and less likely to work
in a managerial position. They are also less likely than those aged 30-49 to
work in professional roles.

6. DETAILED FINDINGS

7. 18-29 51% 55%
30-49 48% 61%
50-64 44% 68%
65+ 42% 69%
TOTAL 47% 62%
Landlines are seen as more important than cell phones or smartphones, though
this gap narrows among younger respondents.
31%
22%
40%
41%
30%
18%
29%
16%
17%
22%
29%
22%
21%
17%
23%
22%
26%
23%
25%
24%
Q8. How important is a cell phone or smartphone to your job?
25%
15%
14%
19%
17%
20%
23%
17%
12%
20%
29%
26%
29%
10%
27%
26%
35%
39%
59%
35%
Not at all Not too Somewhat Very Total importance
Cell Phone/Smartphone Landline Phone
Q9. How important is a landline phone to your job?

8. 18-29 23%
30-49 19%
50-64 17%
65+ 9%
TOTAL 18%
While overall perceived importance is low, younger respondents are slightly more likely to
see social networking sites as important to their jobs than the oldest group.
51%
56%
65%
68%
59%
26%
24%
18%
24%
22%
17%
13%
15%
5%
14%
6%
6%
2%
4%
4%
Not at all Not too Somewhat Very Total importance
Social Networking Sites
Q11. How important are social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin to your job?

9. 18-29 68% 70%
30-49 84% 86%
50-64 74% 77%
65+ 68% 76%
TOTAL 76% 79%
Surprisingly, the youngest respondents are less likely than the average to see
the Internet or email as important to their work.
20%
9%
13%
19%
13%
1%
7%
12%
12%
10%
19%
27%
17%
35%
22%
49%
57%
57%
33%
54%
Q7. How important is the internet to your job?
18%
9%
14%
16%
13%
11%
5%
8%
8%
7%
21%
19%
14%
27%
18%
49%
67%
63%
49%
61%
Not at all Not too Somewhat Very Total importance
Internet Email
Q10. How important is email to your job?

10. This finding could be due to the fact that the youngest set is less likely to occupy
professional or managerial positions and more likely to work in the service industry.
29%
14% 14% 13%
28%
9%
13%
20%
36%
16%
12%
9%
23%
16% 15%
12%
8%
3%
25%
21%
Professional Manager, Executive,
Official
Clerical/Office/Sales Clerk Service
TOTAL 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
Q6. What kind of work do you do?

11. Summary:Total Perceived Job-Related Importance ofTechnologies byAge
51%
48%
44%
42%
55%
61% 68%
69%
23%
19%
17%
9%
68%
84%
74%
68%
70%
86%
77% 76%
18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
Q7-11. How important is [INSERT TECHNOLOGY] to your job?