Technology and the American Workforce

It is a well-accepted fact that technology impacts nearly all facets of our lives. New research from the PewResearch Center posits the idea that technology, namely the Internet and cell phones, have transformed the American workforce. For most American workers, “…life on the job means life online.”

Through use of an online survey, data was gathered via a sample of working Americans who answered questions regarding the role of technology in their work. One of the main findings of the survey was that technology has changed the ways American workers communicate. E-mail has become the primary method of communication, in spite of the potential threats of spam, hacking, and phishing.

Although many people assume that technology may prove a distraction to workers, just 7% of workers feel their productivity has dropped because of the internet, e-mail and cell phones. In fact, 46% of workers say they feel more productive through the use of technology.

As a result of the prevalence of the use of the internet and e-mail, employers find themselves adapting to changing times as well. 46% of those surveyed mentioned their employers blocking access to certain websites and limiting what content their employees are allowed to post online. Despite this change in the rules surrounding the use of the internet, it is interesting to note that these rules appear to apply more to those in Office-Based positions. In contrast, among those employed in service, skilled and semi-skilled positions, many workers reported not being sure if employers controlled website access or enforced rules about what workers are allowed to do online.

How has technology changed your workplace?

How do we decide the “rules” surrounding the use of technology in the workplace?

Is e-mail a tool to facilitate communication or a block to authentic connection at work?