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Job Design and Skill Developments in the Workplace

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  • Russo, Giovanni

    (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop))

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between job complexity and the skills development of adult workers in Europe using the Cedefop European Skills and Jobs Survey (ESJS). The results suggest that challenging workplaces, workplaces in which jobs are designed to include complex tasks, and which place high demands on workers' skills, also stimulate workers' skills development. Increasing the degree of job complexity has positive and robust effects on the degree of skill development, and so does an increase in work experience (tenure). The analysis stresses the importance of on-the-job learning and contextual workplace characteristics for adult workers' skills development.

Suggested Citation

  • Russo, Giovanni, 2016. "Job Design and Skill Developments in the Workplace," IZA Discussion Papers 10207, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10207
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp10207.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Žilvinas Martinaitis & Aleksandr Christenko & Jonas AntanaviÄ ius, 2021. "Upskilling, Deskilling or Polarisation? Evidence on Change in Skills in Europe," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(3), pages 451-469, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job characteristics; job complexity; skills; skills development; learning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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