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Tasks, Employment and Wages: An Analysis of the German Labor Market from 1979 to 2012

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  • Pikos, Anna Katharina
  • Thomsen, Stephan L.

Abstract

The literature has found evidence for a wage polarization depending on routine and non-routine working tasks. Using unique German survey data we ask whether wage polarization coincides with polarization in job satisfaction. First, we find that contrary to what polarization predicts, routine cognitive tasks are associated with higher wage. Second, satisfaction across tasks has converged rather than diverged. The main driver for these two findings are routine cognitive tasks which do not lower satisfaction but instead more often than not increase it. Evidence for polarization arises from the facts that non-routine analytic tasks tend to increase and routine manual to decrease satisfaction. But due to a persistent positive effect of routine cognitive tasks, we do not find clearcut satisfaction polarization.

Suggested Citation

  • Pikos, Anna Katharina & Thomsen, Stephan L., 2015. "Tasks, Employment and Wages: An Analysis of the German Labor Market from 1979 to 2012," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 112929, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc15:112929
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Coban, Mustafa, 2017. "Wage mobility, wage inequality, and tasks: Empirical evidence from Germany, 1984-2014," Discussion Paper Series 139, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Chair of Economic Order and Social Policy.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J00 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - General

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