From “having a job” to “having a good job”: How does digital literacy affect the employment quality of young workers?

Background Against the backdrop of digital technology reshaping the job market, digital literacy not only determines whether young workers can secure employment but also whether they can achieve high-quality employment. Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly examine the relationship between digital literacy and the employment quality of young workers. Objective By analyzing 8931 young workers aged 16 to 44, this study examines the relationship between digital literacy and employment quality among young workers. Methods Utilizing data from China Family Panel Studies surveys conducted in 2018, 2020, and 2022, this study employs a fixed-effects model to empirically examine the impact of digital literacy on youth employment quality. Results This study finds that digital literacy significantly enhances the employment quality of young workers. This positive impact is primarily channeled through the mediation of knowledge, skill, and experiential capital. Moreover, the relationship between digital literacy and employment quality is positively moderated by interpersonal and family network. Regionally, the beneficial effect exhibits a diminishing gradient across regions in the order of east, northeast, west, and central. Conclusions This study proposes and verifies a positive correlation between digital literacy and young workers’ employment quality, along with the mediating role of human capital and the moderating role of social networks.