Understanding the women’s digital employment intentions: The role of policies and values

Abstract

The digital economy has enforced women’s employment and provided more possibilities for promoting employment for gender equality (SGD5). In order to achieve SDG5, the study aims to explore the role of digital employment policy and digital employment value on digital employment intention based on the support alliance theory and employment behavior theory and to build a model of digital employment for gender equality. 492 women with digital work experience from China participated in the survey. The results reveal that digital employment policy (β = 0.327, p < 0.001) and digital employment value (β = 0.454, p < 0.001) predict digital employment intention. Digital employment policy plays an active role in determining digital employment value (β = 0.546, p < 0.001). At the same time, the study claims the intermediary role of digital employment value in the structural model. This study can inspire the government and relevant departments to design more scientific and diversified employment policies for women, including policy support in economic, educational, and social aspects. Furthermore, women in the digital era should actively participate in training, improve their digital skills, understand the possibilities that digitalization brings to their work and life, and adapt themselves to the development of the digital society. This study encourages women to integrate into the digital society and actively improve their values, thus achieving SDG5.