The American economy is increasingly divided between a few sectors with advanced digital capabilities and many others that lag significantly behind, according to a recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI).
The findings were based on an analysis of companies in 30 US industries. The researchers examined 27 indicators to understand how each sector is applying digital assets, digital tools, and digital workers.
A few industries have become highly digitized over the past decade, the analysis found. In particular, information and communications technology (ICT), media, professional services, and financial services companies are at the forefront of the digital revolution.
However, the rest of the major industries in the US economy are far less digitized than those leading sectors.
Many labor-intensive industries, such as retail and healthcare, are expanding digital use, but substantial parts of their workforces do not yet use technology extensively, the analysis found.
Industries that are both highly labor-intensive and localized, such as construction and agriculture, tend to rank lowest in digital usage.
About the research: The findings were based on an analysis of companies in 30 different US industries. The researchers examined 27 indicators to understand how each sector is utilizing digital assets, tools, and workers.