Internet use in the EU: 16% of employed internet users reported changes in their job tasks due to new software or computerised equipment

Eurostat has just released interesting figures about Internet use in the European Union. According to these figures, at the beginning of 2018, 87% of people in the European Union (EU), aged between 16 and 74 years, had used internet at least once in the last twelve months. Of those internet users that were employed, 71% reported using computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets or other portable devices at work and 19% used computerised equipment or machinery.

New tasks and skills

The job tasks of 16% of employed internet users in the EU had changed due to new software or computerised equipment in the twelve months prior to the survey, and 29% had to learn how to use new software or equipment for their job.

Almost half (47%) of employed internet users in the EU assessed their skills relating to the use of computers, software or applications at work as adequate for their duties, while 18% had more skills than required for the current duties and 9% admitted that they needed further training.

The most common work activities with computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets or other portable devices or computerised equipment in the EU were exchanging emails or entering data in databases (61%), creating or editing electronic documents (47%) and using specific occupational software (38%). Applications to receive tasks or instructions were used by 22% of employed internet users and social media were used for work by 18%. 9% of employed internet users were involved in developing or maintaining IT systems or software.

This information, issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, is part of the results of the survey conducted in 2018 on ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) usage in households and by individuals.

By countries

In 2018, the highest share of employed internet users used computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets or other portable devices or computerised equipment at work in the Netherlands (93%), followed by Denmark, Sweden (both 90%) and Finland (87%). The lowest proportions, below half of the employed internet users, were recorded in Romania (36%) and Bulgaria (47%).

The job tasks of 16% of employed internet users in the EU changed due to new software or computerised equipment in 2018. Those with high education were more likely to be affected by this change than those with medium and low education (20%, 14% and 9% respectively).

Among the EU Member States, the highest share of employed internet users whose main job tasks changed due to new software or computerised equipment was registered in Denmark (27%), Luxembourg (25%), Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands (all 23%). At the other end of the scale, Cyprus (3%), Bulgaria (6%), Romania and Latvia (both 7%) had the lowest share.