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Robots, Job Characteristics and Job Insecurity

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Abstract

In this paper, I use data from a recent Pew survey to analyse the reasons behind people’s fear of losing their job to robots. I find that more people fear losing their job to other people than fear losing it to robots, that people who fear robots typically also fear losing their job for other reasons and that many job and individual characteristics that correlate with the fear of losing one’s job to robots also correlate with the fear of losing one’s job for other reasons. Finally, I find only limited evidence that job characteristics identified by experts as being robot proof are related to lower job insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Tom Coupé, 2018. "Robots, Job Characteristics and Job Insecurity," Working Papers in Economics 18/05, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:cbt:econwp:18/05
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Morikawa, Masayuki, 2017. "Who Are Afraid of Losing Their Jobs to Artificial Intelligence and Robots? Evidence from a Survey," GLO Discussion Paper Series 71, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
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    3. David H. Autor, 2015. "Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 29(3), pages 3-30, Summer.
    4. J. Bradford Jensen & Lori G. Kletzer, 2010. "Measuring Tradable Services and the Task Content of Offshorable Services Jobs," NBER Chapters, in: Labor in the New Economy, pages 309-335, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Dickerson, Andy & Green, Francis, 2012. "Fears and realisations of employment insecurity," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 198-210.
    6. Joel Mokyr & Chris Vickers & Nicolas L. Ziebarth, 2015. "The History of Technological Anxiety and the Future of Economic Growth: Is This Time Different?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 29(3), pages 31-50, Summer.
    7. Verónica Alaimo & Mariano Bosch & David S. Kaplan & Carmen Pagés & Laura Ripani, 2015. "Jobs for Growth," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 90977, February.
    8. Alaimo, Veronica & Bosch, Mariano & Kaplan, David S. & Pagés, Carmen & Ripani, Laura, 2015. "Jobs for Growth," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 7203.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Job insecurity; robots; computers; technology; skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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