Arbeitspapier

Robots, Occupations, and Worker Age: A Production-Unit Analysis of Employment

We analyze the impact of robot adoption on employment composition using novel micro data on robot use of German manufacturing plants linked with social security records and data on job tasks. Our task-based model predicts more favorable employment effects for the least routine-task intensive occupations and for young workers, the latter being better at adapting to change. An event-study analysis for robot adoption confirms both predictions. We do not find decreasing employment for any occupational or age group but churning among low-skilled workers rises sharply. We conclude that the displacement effect of robots is occupation-biased but age neutral whereas the reinstatement effect is age-biased and benefits young workers most.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 16128

Classification
Wirtschaft
Labor Demand
Subject
robots
jobs
occupation
worker age

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Deng, Liuchun
Müller, Steffen
Plümpe, Verena
Stegmaier, Jens
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
(where)
Bonn
(when)
2023

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Deng, Liuchun
  • Müller, Steffen
  • Plümpe, Verena
  • Stegmaier, Jens
  • Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Time of origin

  • 2023

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