Age, Gender, and Work: Mapping the Digital Divide on Training in Portugal

Recent data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) indicate that Portugal continues to face challenges regarding digital literacy. However, this issue is not evenly distributed across the population; it is largely concentrated among older age groups (OECD, 2024), revealing a significant digital divide between younger and older workers. This relationship between age and digital skills is partly explained by the lower educational attainment of older cohorts and by stereotype threat in the technological domain.

In the context of the ongoing digital transition, digital skills have become increasingly valued by employers (GEP, 2023). This is particularly relevant for maintaining employability throughout working life, especially given the pressure to extend careers due to rising statutory retirement ages and disincentives for early retirement in Portugal.

This chapter analyses national data on digital skills training and policies implemented between 2023 and 2024, a period marked by post-pandemic recovery. It aims to identify public policies designed to enhance the digital skills of older workers and to assess their participation in digital and technological training initiatives offered by the Portuguese Public Employment Services (PESs), considering profiles such as gender, education, and employment status.

Using secondary data from the Portuguese PES analysed with SPSS, the findings show that older participants in training programmes are not a homogeneous group. Clusters of low- and mid-educated individuals, together with gender differences, highlight the role of PES in addressing skills gaps and underline the importance of flexible modular training and policies that address educational and gender inequalities.