Access to broadband Internet and labour force outcomes: A case study of the Western Downs Region, Queensland

Abstract

This paper examines the causal effect of household access to broadband Internet on individuals’ labour market outcomes in an Australian rural and regional context. This study uses the survey data of 391 households randomly selected from the Western Downs Region of Queensland, Australia, and employs the propensity score matching technique to make causal inferences. This study also controls selection bias issues – an aspect which has been overlooked in previous studies. This study found that the causal effect of household access to broadband Internet on individuals’ labour force outcomes is not statistically significant. This finding can add value to our knowledge of the causal relationship between broadband access and labour force participation. As the rollout of a high-speed broadband network in rural and regional Australia is currently underway, the finding can be considered a benchmark for subsequent assessment of the effects of such infrastructure development on socio-economic outcomes.