Internet: 2.6 jobs created for each job lost (PDF from McKinsey Study)

Conclusion:

In the 13 countries McKinsey studied, the Internet has contributed on average 3.4 percent to GDP, weighting more than agriculture, energy, and other better-established industries, and it adds considerable vigor to economic growth. Perhaps surprisingly, the brunt of this impact (about 75 percent) is from industries that are not directly linked to the Internet, except of course by their computers. This value comes primarily from increased productivity.

Understanding just how much the Internet contributes to national economies should spur government and business leaders to seek ways to optimize their participation in the global Internet ecosystem. Encouraging usage is an unavoidable first step in leveraging public spending, but leaders must also focus on providing human capital, financial capital, infrastructure, and the appropriate business environment.