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People versus machines: the impact of minimum wages on automatable

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  • Lordan, Grace
  • Neumark, David

Abstract

We study the effect of minimum wage increases on employment in automatable jobs – jobs in which employers may find it easier to substitute machines for people – focusing on low-skilled workers from whom such substitution may be spurred by minimum wage increases. Based on CPS data from 1980-2015, we find that increasing the minimum wage decreases significantly the share of automatable employment held by low-skilled workers, and increases the likelihood that low-skilled workers in automatable jobs become unemployed. The average effects mask significant heterogeneity by industry and demographic group, including substantive adverse effects for older, low-skilled workers in manufacturing. The findings imply that groups often ignored in the minimum wage literature are in fact quite vulnerable to employment changes and job loss because of automation following a minimum wage increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Lordan, Grace & Neumark, David, 2017. "People versus machines: the impact of minimum wages on automatable," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 84060, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:84060
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/84060/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Zachary Parolin, 2019. "Automation and Occupational Wage Trends: What Role for Unions and Collective Bargaining?," LIS Working papers 767, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    3. La, Jung Joo, 2019. "Can a reduction in credit card processing fees offset the effect of a hike in the minimum wage?," MPRA Paper 97920, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Vit Hradil, 2018. "Does Minimum Wage Affect Workplace Safety?," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp615, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    5. Mishagina, Natalia & Montmarquette, Claude, 2021. "The role of beliefs in supporting economic policies: The case of the minimum wage," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1059-1087.
    6. Chang Hyung Lee, 2020. "Minimum Wage Policy and Community College Enrollment Patterns," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 73(1), pages 178-210, January.
    7. Oliver Bruttel, 2019. "The effects of the new statutory minimum wage in Germany: a first assessment of the evidence," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 53(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Meer, Jonathan, 2018. "Recent Research on the Minimum Wage: Implications for Missouri," MPRA Paper 93926, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Kakkar, Shrey, 2021. "Significant movements in the debate on the Minimum Wage (1994 - 2019)," MPRA Paper 110185, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Y. Yuryk, 2020. "Informal Employment In Ukraine And Formation Of Institutional Conditions Of Its Minimization," Economy and Forecasting, Valeriy Heyets, issue 4, pages 36-59.
    11. Kobosko, Monika, 2021. "Ginące zawody jako konsekwencja zmian technologicznych na polskim rynku pracy," Studia z Polityki Publicznej / Public Policy Studies, Warsaw School of Economics, vol. 8(4), pages 1-21, December.
    12. repec:iab:iabjlr:v:53:i:1:p:art.10 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Bruttel, Oliver, 2019. "The effects of the new statutory minimum wage in Germany: a first assessment of the evidence," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 53(1), pages .10(1-13).

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    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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