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The Growth and Valuation of Generic Skills

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  • Green, Francis

    (University of Kent at Canterbury)

  • Andy Dickerson

Abstract

Using a method for measuring job skills derived from survey data on detailed work activities, we show that between 1997 and 2001 there was a growth in Britain in the utilisation of computing skills, literacy, numeracy, technical know-how, high-level communication skills, planning skills, client communication skills, horizontal communication skills, problem-solving and checking skills. Computer skills and high-level communication skills carry positive wage premia, as shown both in cross-section hedonic wage equations and through a within-cohorts change analysis. No part of the gender pay gap can be accounted for by differences in levels of generic skills between men and women.

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Paper provided by Royal Economic Society in its series Royal Economic Society Annual Conference 2003 with number 91.

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Date of creation: 04 Jun 2003
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Handle: RePEc:ecj:ac2003:91

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Web page: http://www.res.org.uk/society/annualconf.asp
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Keywords: skills; wages; computers;

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References

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Cited by:
  1. Grip, Andries de, 2005. "Skill obsolescence and employability," Open Access publications from Maastricht University urn:nbn:nl:ui:27-16936, Maastricht University.
  2. Anne E. Green, 2003. "Labour Market Trends, Skill Needs and the Ageing of the Workforce: A Challenge for Employability?," Local Economy, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 306-321, November.

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