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Heterogeneity matters: labour productivity differentiated by age and skills
[La productivité du travail selon l’âge et selon les qualifications]

Author

Listed:
  • Muriel Roger

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSEE - Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE), PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

  • Malgorzata Wasmer

    (UNIFR - Université de Fribourg = University of Fribourg, UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2)

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the actual profile of marginal productivity across age groups within the workforce. As age-productivity profiles might differ between occupations, we differentiate the workforce simultaneously by skills (low-skilled, highskilled) and by age (young, middle-aged, old). Estimating a production function with a nested constant-elasticity-of-substitution (CES) specification in labour allows imperfect substitution between different categories of workers. We use French datasets for manufacturing, services and trade sectors. Labour productivity is found to be the lowest for the low-skilled older workers while high-skilled senior employees in manufacturing and trade are the most productive group. Throughout the sectors, wage rates vary considerably less than productivity and wage profiles are steeper for highskilled workers. The relative productivity/wage ratio is found to be sector-specific. It is the highest for young workers in manufacturing while in services and trade it is the highest for the middle-age employees.

Suggested Citation

  • Muriel Roger & Malgorzata Wasmer, 2011. "Heterogeneity matters: labour productivity differentiated by age and skills [La productivité du travail selon l’âge et selon les qualifications]," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-05483880, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:cesptp:hal-05483880
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://insee.hal.science/hal-05483880v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Mingzhi Zhang & Chao Chen & Xiangyu Zhou & Xinpei Wang & Bowen Wang & Fuying Huan & Jianxu Liu, 2024. "The impact of accelerating population aging on service industry development: Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(6), pages 1-22, June.
    3. Anna Ruzik-Sierdzinska & Claudia Villosio & Michele Belloni & Maciej Lis & Monika Potoczna, 2013. "Age and productivity. Human Capital Accumulation and Depreciation," CASE Network Reports 0114, CASE-Center for Social and Economic Research.
    4. Francisco Benita, 2014. "A Cohort Analysis of the College Premium in Mexico," Latin American Journal of Economics-formerly Cuadernos de Economía, Instituto de Economía. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 51(1), pages 147-178, May.
    5. Paulino Font & Mario Izquierdo & Sergio Puente, 2021. "The Effect of Subsidies to Mature-Age Employment: a Quasi-Experimental Analysis," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 123-147, June.
    6. Sui, Bo & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Yao, Liu-Yang & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does aging affect renewable energy? The role of extreme events and economic development," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    7. Nathalie Greenan & Pierre-Jean Messe, 2014. "Transmission of vocational skills at the end of career: horizon effect and technological or organisational change," Working Papers halshs-01143496, HAL.
    8. Jisung Park & Seongsu Kim, 2015. "The differentiating effects of workforce aging on exploitative and exploratory innovation: The moderating role of workforce diversity," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 481-503, June.
    9. Maciej Lis, 2017. "Productivity based selection to retirement: Evidence from EU-SILC," IBS Working Papers 02/2017, Instytut Badan Strukturalnych.
    10. Paulino Font & Mario Izquierdo & Sergio Puente, 2017. "Subsidising mature age employment or throwing coins Into a wishing well: a quasi-experimental analysis," Working Papers 1740, Banco de España.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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