Is Job Polarisation ICT-Driven? Evidence from the US

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the effects of automation on job polarisation. Automation has been claimed to be one of the main causes for the job polarisation observed in many countries such as the US since the mid-1980s. Using the US Census data, we show that between 1980 and 2007 the increase in the usage of ICT capital is not statistically associated with changes in the employment and wage bill share of routine workers, although there is heterogeneity across industries. The main findings imply that ICT capital per se might not be the main factor driving job polarisation in the US.