cover_european-economic-review.jpg

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

We analyse the impact of robot adoption on employment composition using novel micro data on robot use in German manufacturing plants linked with social security records and data on job tasks. Our task-based model predicts more favourable employment effects for the least routine-task intensive occupations and for young workers, with the latter being better at adapting to change. An event-study analysis of robot adoption confirms both predictions. We do not find adverse employment effects 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.

01. November 2024

Authors Liuchun Deng Steffen Müller Verena Plümpe Jens Stegmaier

Whom to contact

For Researchers

Verena Plümpe
Verena Plümpe
Economist

If you have any further questions please contact me.

+49 345 7753-868 Request per E-Mail

For Journalists

Mitglied der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft LogoTotal-Equality-LogoSupported by the BMWK