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Does robotization affect job quality? Evidence from European regional labour markets

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  • José-Ignacio Antón
  • Enrique Fernández-Macías
  • Rudolf Winter-Ebmer

Abstract

Whereas there are recent papers on the effect of robot adoption on employ- ment and wages, there is no evidence on how robots affect non-monetary working conditions. We explore the impact of robot adoption on several domains of non-monetary working conditions in Europe over the period 1995-2005 combining information from the World Robotics Survey and the European Working Conditions Survey. Aiming to deal with the possible en- dogeneity of robot deployment, we employ an instrumental variables strategy, using the robot exposure by sector in other developed countries as an instru- ment. Our results indicate that robotization has a negative impact on the quality of work in the dimension of work intensity and no relevant impact on the domains of physical environment or skills and discretion.

Suggested Citation

  • José-Ignacio Antón & Enrique Fernández-Macías & Rudolf Winter-Ebmer, 2020. "Does robotization affect job quality? Evidence from European regional labour markets," CDL Aging, Health, Labor working papers 2020-20, The Christian Doppler (CD) Laboratory Aging, Health, and the Labor Market, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.
    • Handle: RePEc:jku:cdlwps:wp2004
    Note: English
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    1. Janine Berg & Francis Green & Laura Nurski & David A Spencer, 2023. "Risks to job quality from digital technologies: Are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 347-365, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    robotization; working conditions; job quality; Europe; regional labour markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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