Computerization creates more jobs than it destroys
Study by researchers from Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 and the IZA - Institute of Labor Economics
Computer-controlled machines are able to displace workers in certain tasks. At the same time, these technologies raise productivity and reduce prices, stimulating demand and ultimately creating demand for workers in other tasks. Researchers from Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 and the show in an article that has been accepted for publication in the prestigious Journal of the European Economic Association that the latter effect dominated in the European Union between 1999 and 2010: computerization created more jobs than it destroyed.
The study was conducted by , Team Leader of the research group Digital Transformation at the IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, Anna Salomons, professor of Employment and Inequality at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视, and Ulrich Zierahn, assistant professor of Economics and Data Analytics at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视.
Assistant professor Ulrich Zierahn writes: 鈥淚n the recent past, rapid improvements in digital technologies have raised fears in the public debate that such technologies might displace large numbers of workers, resulting in significantly rising unemployment. While technologies certainly are capable of displacing workers in some tasks, they simultaneously create demand for workers in others. Which effect dominates is an empirical question. We show that 鈥 at least for the recent past 鈥 such technologies created more jobs than they destroyed in the European Union."
In my view, the public debate should worry less about whether there will be enough jobs, but certainly more about how to help those who are exposed to technological disruptions.
"This highlights that focusing on displacement potentials alone is misleading. Nevertheless, we know from the scientific debate that technological innovations can disrupt workers careers, imposing large costs on those who have to search for new jobs. In my view, the public debate should therefore worry less about whether there will be enough jobs, but certainly more about how to help those who are exposed to technological disruptions.鈥
The whole article is forthcoming in the .