Cobertura
Digital adoption in the Valencian Community does not proceed at the same pace across all areas. A study commissioned by Labora highlights that while urban coastal zones show higher use of new technologies, inland districts are lagging behind in this area.
The report Digitalization and the Labor Market in the Valencian Community, presented this week, was prepared by the universities of Valencia, Alicante, and Jaume I of Castellón, with collaboration from the CEV and regional employment accords. It examines how digital tools are taken up in different parts of the territory and how residents and businesses interact with information and communication technologies.
Project coordinator Jorge Hermosilla emphasized that every topic covered in the study reveals unfavorable digital conditions in inland or more sparsely populated areas. This situation translates into lower service quality in those regions and creates disadvantages for local businesses compared with more connected zones.
In the Alicante region, the most digitally advanced areas are l’Alacantí, Marina Baixa, and Baix Vinalopó, while El Comtat and Alto Vinalopó show the slowest progress. The remaining areas occupy a middle ground in terms of digital development.
Infraestructuras
All findings point to a digital divide shaped by infrastructure gaps in several inland districts. These shortcomings constrain service quality and put businesses in interior areas at a disadvantage relative to urban or coastal zones.
To gather the information, eight thousand surveys were conducted. They reveal that women tend to display stronger digital engagement and a broader range of uses and skills, and report higher satisfaction with internet use. The study notes that women frequently use digital resources for banking, administrative tasks, leisure, daily life activities, communication, online shopping, health-related information, and job search tools.
Older groups show a preference for connecting from their homes and exhibit less use of available apps, such as those for online shopping and leisure. This demographic segment requests more training in new technologies and tends to rely more on health-related apps and services.