The breadth of available channels has not translated into universal comfort. While the tools exist, many workers do not know which ones are most relevant to their field or industry. Fifty-nine percent of job seekers say they do not know the best places or websites to network within their professional area. Forty-four percent say they lack the people or soft skills to make networking worth their time.

Younger workers lead in nearly every category. Gen Z and millennials are the heaviest users of online platforms, at 77% and 76% respectively, and attend in-person events at higher rates than their older counterparts, at 74% and 70%. Engagement drops steadily with age. Gen X and baby boomers trail across most networking methods, with participation on virtual and digital channels falling as low as 48% and 40%.

Men cast a wider net than women across most networking channels. Seventy-nine percent of men use online platforms compared to 67% of women. Men attend more in-person events (70% vs. 61%), are more willing to try cold outreach (70% vs. 54%) and participate in virtual events at higher rates (66% vs. 52%). Men are also more likely to believe digital networking makes authentic connections easier, with 51% saying so compared to 38% of women.