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The Effect of Technology and Trade on Wage Differentials Between Nonproduction and Production Workers in Canadian Manufacturing

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  • Baldwin, John R.
  • Raffiquzzaman, Mohammed

Abstract

The 1980s and 1990s have seen a rising share of skilled labour in total employment in the manufacturing sector of Canada. At the same time, the wage premium for skilled workers has increased, thereby increasing the inequality between skilled and unskilled workers. There is a disagreement about the causes of these changes. Several hypotheses have been offered to explain them-increased international competition, changes in the relative supply of more-skilled versus less-skilled workers, and skilled-augmenting technological change. This paper analyzes the nature, pattern and causes of the shifts in the composition of employment in manufacturing. The paper describes the composition of employment in manufacturing. It focuses on the direction and magnitude of shifts in the proportion of nonproduction workers employed within manufacturing and across sectors within manufacturing. It also investigates the extent to which wage differentials between nonproduction and production workers have widened in the 1980s. In addition, it assesses the extent to which these changes are associated with trade and technology use. The results indicate that the rising wage differentials are associated with both increased trade intensity and the types of technologies that are being used in the plant.

Suggested Citation

  • Baldwin, John R. & Raffiquzzaman, Mohammed, 1998. "The Effect of Technology and Trade on Wage Differentials Between Nonproduction and Production Workers in Canadian Manufacturing," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 1998098e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    • Handle: RePEc:stc:stcp3e:1998098e
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    File URL: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/11F0019M1998098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dhaliwal, Naginder & Baldwin, John R., 2000. "Labour Productivity Differences Between Domestic and Foreign-controlled Establishments in the Canadian Manufacturing Sector," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2000118e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    2. Baldwin, John R. & Hanel, Peter, 2000. "Multinationals and the Canadian Innovation Process," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2000151e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    3. Zakhilwal, Omar, 2001. "The Impact of International Trade on the Wages of Canadians," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2001156e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    4. Noria, Gabriela López, 2015. "The effect of trade and FDI on inter-industry wage differentials: The case of Mexico," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 381-397.
    5. Elvira del Rosario Velarde López & Ma. Zóchitl Araiza Garza & Eunice Saraí Coronado Rojas, 2012. "Factors of the firm and the entrepreneur associated with technological capabilities of some metalworking SMEs in Mexico," Economía, Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (IIES). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida, Venezuela, vol. 37(33), pages 85-106, January-J.
    6. Saridakis, George & Idris, Bochra & Hansen, Jared M. & Dana, Leo Paul, 2019. "SMEs' internationalisation: When does innovation matter?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 250-263.
    7. Gellatly, Guy & Baldwin, John R., 1998. "Are There High-tech Industries or Only High-tech Firms? Evidence from New Technology-based Firms," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 1998120e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    8. Idris, Bochra & Saridakis, George, 2018. "Local formal interpersonal networks and SMEs internationalisation: Empirical evidence from the UK," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 610-624.
    9. Eugene Beaulieu & Vivek Dehejia & Hazrat-Omar Zakhilwal, 2004. "International Trade, Labour Turnover, and the Wage Premium: Testing the Bhagwati-Dehejia Hypothesis for Canada," CESifo Working Paper Series 1149, CESifo.
    10. Gellatly, Guy & Baldwin, John R., 1998. "La haute technologie est-elle l'exclusivite des entreprises ou peut-elle s'appliquer a l'ensemble d'un secteur d'activite? Donnees recueillies aupres des nouvelles entreprises axees sur la technologie," Direction des études analytiques : documents de recherche 1998120f, Statistics Canada, Direction des études analytiques.
    11. Johnson, Joanne & Baldwin, John R. & Gray, Tara, 1996. "Technology-induced Wage Premia in Canadian Manufacturing Plants During the 1980s," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 1996092e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.

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