After working for the city of Zanesville, Ohio, for 27 years, Sharon Newton had to go back to school.

Newton lost her job this year, and when she went to look for a new one she discovered that, even with all of her experience, she wasn’t prepared for the modern work force. When prospective employers asked about her computer skills, she had no answer.

It turns out “that is extremely important,” said Newton, who needed help with using spreadsheets and other entry-level office computer tasks. She is now enrolled in computer training courses offered by Zane State University and by Experience Works, a nonprofit national job training organization.

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About a fifth of Americans don’t have Internet access at home, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported in June. Their profile — generally older and less educated — correlates closely with the demographics of those suffering the fastest rises in unemployment, an analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

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