Buildings in a city at night. Many lines of blue light are connecting different buildings across the image.

Creating the Digital Bridge: How Physically Distant Technology Access and Assistance Can Support Workers in a New Economy

This project will pilot a small-scale program to provide job seekers with home technology and remote support to develop digital skills and prepare for new careers.

Creating the Digital Bridge: How Physically Distant Technology Access and Assistance Can Support Workers in a New Economy

To address some of the challenges job seekers face in the wake of COVID-19, the City of Seattle in partnership with the Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) will pilot a small-scale program to provide job seekers with home technology and remote support to develop digital skills and prepare for new careers. Researchers from UW will work with the City and SJI to investigate key questions related to the program design, implementation, and participant experience to increase the understanding of participants’ needs, implications for future program design, and the impact on those who received services.

Publications

Digital Bridge: Providing digital access to low-income job seekers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Research Report Stacey Wedlake, David Keyes and Yvette Iribe Ramirez, September 2021

Creating a Digital Bridge: Lessons and policy implications from a technology access and distribution program for low-income job seekers

Conference Paper Stacey Wedlake, Yvette Iribe Ramirez, Chris Jowaisas and David Keyes, August 2021

Project Team

Chris Jowaisas, Senior Research Scientist, Information School
Stacey Wedlake, Research Scientist, Information School
David Keyes, Digital Equity Manager at City of Seattle
Yvette Iribe Ramirez, Research Assistant, Information School