Recently, one of our learners told us about the situation his family is facing as his partner prepares to leave her job. She has worked as a store manager in a shop for many years, but has recently role has been merged with another and she will be out of work within a few weeks. She had already spotted a vacancy online and was keen to apply, but what seemed like a simple step quickly became overwhelming.
When she called the employer, she were told the application had to be completed online. That was where things started to feel impossible. She doesn’t have an email address, her CV only exists on paper and is out of date, and she doesn’t own a smartphone. The household doesn’t have Wi-Fi either, so the only way to get online is through his phone. Even uploading a CV or filling in an online form felt daunting.
On top of this, money is tight. They recently had to sell their car to help pay for care for an elderly family member, and there’s very little left over for things like devices, broadband, or training. Despite her experience and willingness to work, she feels shut out of a system that now expects everything to be done online.
This is a common experience. In the UK today, around 82% of jobs require digital skills, yet only 33% of people who are out of work can complete all the basic digital tasks needed for employment. For some, the gap is even wider—around 20% of people not in work have none of the essential digital skills, meaning they can’t apply for jobs or access services without help. Digital exclusion can quickly compound other challenges, making it harder to find work, manage benefits, and stay connected.
Our learner told us how overwhelming this all felt. Something as simple as creating an email address or setting up an online job profile seemed like a huge hurdle. For people already dealing with stress, caring responsibilities, or financial hardship, the digital world can feel like another barrier rather than a support.
We talked about how our Help to Apply for Jobs Online sessions at Starting Point in February could help. These sessions offer friendly, one-to-one support to help people get online, update their CV, search for jobs, and feel more confident using digital tools. We also talked about our device lending library, so people without equipment can still take part.
He plans to encourage his partner to come along. For her, this could be the first step towards getting back into work and feeling in control again.
This story shows how digital exclusion isn’t just about technology. It’s about access to opportunities, confidence, and the chance to move forward. With the right support, people who feel locked out of the system can start to rebuild their path back into employment.
The Applying for Jobs Online course will be funded by CDL Software and we have been supported with funding for building work in our new learning space by Stockport Council and GMCA.