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How computerization changes the UK labour market: The facts viewed from a new perspective

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Author Info
Borgmans,Lex
Weel,Bas,ter (MERIT)

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Abstract

The digitization of the world as a result of the introduction of computers, chips, and ICT, hasundoubtedly been the most important technological development of the past few decades. Thefact that more and more workers use computers has led to the conclusion that computer skillsare becoming a key to social success. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the discussion ofthe effects of computerization on work. Our main conclusions are that the fear of a digital splitin society appears unjustified. Although computers initially find their way primarily to thehigher educated, practically all workers eventually end up working with computers. Absence ofcomputer skills probably plays no role during this process of computerization. This does notmean, however, that there is no need for policies to optimise the economic potential ofcomputers and ICT in general. Firstly, a properly developed infrastructure may be ofimportance for a rapid diffusion of the possibilities offered by ICT. This applies not only to thephysical networks, but also to the availability of software and information. In addition, it maybe expected that the educational requirements for workers will increase across the board andthere will be changes in the knowledge and skills that people need to have. These are notprimarily computer skills, but concern a much wider shift in the importance of various skills.Adjusting adequately to these changes, requires reliable data. What is being measured and howthe measurements are taken, will need to change considerably.

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Paper provided by Maastricht : MERIT, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology in its series Research Memoranda with number 025.

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Date of creation: 2000
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:umamer:2000025

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Keywords: labour economics ;

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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    Other versions:
  2. Bruce Weinberg, 1998. "Computer Use and the Demand for Women Workers," Working Papers 98-06, Ohio State University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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    Other versions:
  4. Griliches, Zvi, 1969. "Capital-Skill Complementarity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 51(4), pages 465-68, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. John E. DiNardo & Jorn-Steffen Pischke, 1996. "The Returns to Computer Use Revisited: Have Pencils Changed the Wage Structure Too?," NBER Working Papers 5606, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Borghans, Lex & ter Weel, Bas, 2003. "Do We Need Computer Skills to Use a Computer? Evidence from Britain," IZA Discussion Papers 685, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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  8. David Card & Francis Kramarz & Thomas Lemieux, 1996. "Changes in the Relative Structure of Wages and Employment: A Comparison of the United States, Canada, and France," NBER Working Papers 5487, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  12. Haskel, Jonathan & Heden, Ylva, 1999. "Computers and the Demand for Skilled Labour: Industry- and Establishment-Level Panel Evidence for the UK," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 109(454), pages C68-79, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  20. Bresnahan, Timothy F, 1999. "Computerisation and Wage Dispersion: An Analytical Reinterpretation," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 109(456), pages F390-415, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  21. Borghans,L. & Grip,A.,de, 1999. "Skills and low pay: upgrading or overeducation?," Research Memoranda 005, Maastricht : ROA, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market. [Downloadable!]
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  25. Miller, Paul & Mulvey, Charles, 1997. "Computer Skills and Wages," Australian Economic Papers, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(68), pages 106-13, June.
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  28. Felstead, Alan & Ashton, David & Green, Francis, 2000. "Are Britain's Workplace Skills Becoming More Unequal?," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 24(6), pages 709-27, November.
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Sakellariou, Chris N. & Patrinos, Harry A., 2003. "Technology, computers, and wages : evidence from a developing economy," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3008, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Borghans,L. & Weel,B.,ter, 2001. "What happens when agent T gets a computer?," Research Memoranda 004, Maastricht : ROA, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
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