Research

Abstract:  This paper addresses the role of technology in shaping worker-level task prices, exploiting within-occupation variation using a unique survey linked to administrative data for over 180.000 Dutch workers between 2014 and 2020. Nonroutine abstract and interactive tasks are related to wage premia, and routine tasks to wage penalties. However, these task returns vary according to exposure to types of (new) technology, such as computers, robots and artificial intelligence. Overall, wages are higher in technology-intensive industries, but newer technologies target non-routine tasks differently. This may have profound implications for the nonroutine wage premium given the rise of artificial intelligence.

Abstract:  This research examines the differentiated regional exposure to new technologies across Europe. Over the past 40 years, biased technological change, particularly the rise of computer technologies, has led to declining employment in routine occupations, with varying local impacts; some regions benefit, while other struggle. Recent adoption of AI-technologies will likely bring equally significant and regionally varied employment effects. With this as a backdrop, we assess regional exposure to AI, software, and robots by linking occupation-level exposure measures to NUTS-2 regions. Using data from the European Union Labour Force Survey, we show that i) AI exposure is particularly high in high-skilled regions and Robots and Software exposure in low- and middle educated areas and ii) that there are stark differences between Western/Northern regions and Eastern/Southern regions in the EU with the latter typically showing greater exposure to technology.

Media: The Financial Analyst

Abstract: Using text data from curricula of the entire Dutch vocational education system, we extract verbs and nouns to measure basic cognitive and cross-functional skills, such as social, technical and resource management skills. This method allows us to uncover, at a fine-grained level, the skills middle-educated students learn at school. We then estimate the returns to these skills. Results show that resource management and social skills have the highest return. Importantly, the returns to skills are strongly conditional on sorting mechanisms. Our results fit in the literature that highlights the demand for complex interactive skills in environments that require more coordination.

Earlier version published as a GLO working paper No. 979.

Media: Dagblad van het Noorden, Noordhollands Dagblad

Abstract: This paper is the first to examine the impact of robotization on work meaningfulness, autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are essential to motivation and well-being at work. Using surveys of workers and robotization data for 14 industries in 20 European countries spanning 2005–2021, we find a consistent negative impact of robotization on perceived work meaningfulness and autonomy. Using instrumental variables, we find that doubling robotization leads to a 0.9 % decrease in work meaningfulness and a 1 % decline in autonomy. To put this in perspective, if the robotization levels of the top 5 industry were to match those of the leading industry in terms of robot adoption in 2020 (equivalent to a 7.5-fold increase), it would result in a decline of 6.8 % in work meaningfulness and 7.5 % in autonomy. The link between robotization, competence, and relatedness is also negative but less robust. We also examine how tasks, skills, and socio-demographic characteristics moderate the main relationships. We find that workers with routine tasks experience an even greater negative effect of robotization in terms of declines in their autonomy, competence, and relatedness. However, we also discover that utilizing computers as tools for independent work can help workers maintain a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in industries and job roles that adopt robots. Our results highlight that by deteriorating work meaningfulness and self-determination, robotization can impact work life above and beyond its consequences for employment and wages.

Earlier version published as GLO Discussion Paper No. 1191.

Media: The Economist, Brookings, The Register, TechCrunch

Abstract: The discussion surrounding the value of work is often conducted based on objective job metrics such as earnings, hours worked, or job security. However, subjective characteristics, such as autonomy or job satisfaction, are equally crucial for the internal experience of meaningful and purposeful work. This article demonstrates two things: 1) there are significant differ ences in the subjective experiences at work among employees, not explained by self selection into professions and sectors; and 2) these differences are partially regionally determined. In the region Utrecht, employees perceive a relatively high level of autonomy, in Twente, there is a relatively strong sense of connection to the work environment, and nowhere are people as satisfied with their jobs as in Delft and the Westland region.

Abstract: We demonstrate why meaningful work, i.e. job-related activities that individuals view as purposeful and worthwhile, matters to labour economists. Building on self-determination theory, which specifies the roles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness as preconditions for motivation, we are the first to explore the determinants of work meaningfulness. Specifically, using three waves of the European Working Conditions Survey, we show that autonomy, competence, and relatedness explain about 60% of the variation in work meaningfulness perceptions. Meanwhile, extrinsic factors, such as income, benefits, and performance pay, are relatively unimportant. Meaningful work also predicts absenteeism, skills training, and retirement intentions, which highlights the concept’s economic significance. We provide new insights that could help organise the future of work in a meaningful and dignifying way and propose concrete avenues for future research on meaningful work in economics.

Media: Brookings, Chronicle of Higher Education, Weekendavisen (DK),

In de Talentmonitor onderzoeken we dynamiek op de Noordelijke arbeidsmarkt: hoe beweegt men zich van baan naar baan? Van school naar werk? Analyses zijn gebaseerd op CBS Microdata. 

Media: Dagblad van het Noorden: 1, 2 Leeuwarder Courant, Podcast TalentTalk