Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 12. Home Internet access using any technology by labor force status, 2007
Metro
Nonmetro Percent
Total
Employed-At work
74.8
65.0**
73.3
Employed-Absent
75.0
65.2**
73.5
Unemployed-On layoff
60.3
49.6**
58.1
Unemployed-Looking
63.8
51.4**
62.0
Retired-Not in labor force
48.8
41.3*
47.4
Disabled-Not in labor force
39.6
34.9*
38.4
Total
68.5
58.1**
66.9
Source: authors using Bureau of the Census CPS data.
Note: Difference between metro/nonmetro (*--significant at 0.05, ** -- significant at 0.01).
Internet access affordability likely becomes an
issue as the rate for those who are unemployed
or no longer in the labor force falls below the
national average (Table 12). This appears to be
true for both rural and urban residents as well. As
these individuals likely no longer have access to
the Internet at work, going on-line at such loca-
tions as libraries and schools would be expected.
A broadband connection is again the choice
for most homes with in-home Internet access
across all labor force categories (Table 13). No
matter whether fully employed, retired or of some
other employment classification, whether the
household is in an urban or rural location, if a
household has in-home Internet access, the house-
hold will most likely have a broadband connection.
The biggest difference between rural and urban
residents falls within the unemployed or not-in-
labor force groups.
Many households have home businesses cov-
ering a wide range of professions such as farmers,
doctors, and artisans (Table 14). These home
business households may become more com-
monplace in the current economic environment
as households often during economic hard times
try to compensate for loss of jobs or reduced work
hours by starting home businesses. Home busi-
nesses are even more commonplace in rural areas
than urban areas (Table 14). In-home Internet
access is much more common in households with
home businesses (81 percent) than all households
in the aggregate (62 percent). This is also true for
both urban and rural home businesses (83 percent
versus 64 and 70 versus 52, respectively).
Table 13. Broadband in homes with Internet access by labor force status, 2007
Metro
Nonmetro Percent
Total
Employed-At work
86.6
72.1**
84.6
Employed-Absent
87.3
75.5**
85.6
Unemployed-On layoff
75.7
54.2**
72.0
Unemployed-Looking
83.7
72.0**
82.1
Retired-Not in labor force
75.0
59.0**
72.3
Disabled-Not in labor force
75.0
63.2**
72.4
Total
85.2
70.2**
83.1
Source: authors using Bureau of the Census CPS data.
Note: Difference between metro/nonmetro (*--significant at 0.05, ** -- significant at 0.01).
Search WWH ::
Custom Search