The effect of automation technology on workers’ training participation

We use detailed survey data to study the influence of automation technology on workers’ training participation. We find that workers who are exposed to substitution by automation are 15 percentage points less likely to participate in training than those who are not exposed to it. However, workers who leave occupations that are highly exposed to automation increase their training participation, while those who enter them train consistently less. The automation training gap is particularly pronounced for medium-skilled and male workers, and is largely driven by the lack of ICT training and training for soft skills. Moreover, workers in exposed occupations receive less financial and nonfinancial training support from their firms, and the training gap is almost entirely related to a gap in firm-financed training courses.