Computer Skills and Use among High School and University Graduates

This article examines the extent of computer training, skills, and on-the-job computer use reported by a sample of 1985 high school and university graduates in three Canadian cities. They find high levels of computer training and skills, especially among university graduates. On-the-job computer use is quite extensive, but tends to be concentrated in routine tasks such as data entry and work processing. Striking gender differences in computer skills and usage reflect the segregation of men and women into different educational programs and occupations. These findings, and their policy implications, are crucial to understanding the advance of the microelectronics revolution in Canada, since this cohort will become the first generation of "information age" workers.