Internet Usage and High-Quality Employment: Mechanisms, Regional Differences and Policy Implications

Abstract

Internet usage exerts a significant influence on high-quality employment, shaping both economic outcomes and social dynamics. The present study employs data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning 2014 to 2020 to construct a high-quality employment index, incorporating key indicators such as job satisfaction, economic status, social status, and household per capita income. Through rigorous analysis, the research explores how internet usage enhances employment quality, investigating the mechanisms and contextual factors that influence this relationship. The key findings are as follows: (1) Internet usage substantially improves high-quality employment, particularly through the enhancement of social capital; (2) The positive effects of internet usage on employment quality are more pronounced among individuals with higher education levels and urban residents with non-agricultural household registration; (3) Regional disparities are significant, with Western regions experiencing a stronger impact of internet usage on employment quality, attributable to lagging infrastructure and industrial development. These findings underscore the need for targeted policies to enhance internet accessibility and digital skills development, particularly in less developed regions, to promote high-quality employment.

Keywords: High-quality employment, Internet use, Social Capital, Digital Economy