Comment – The impact of globalisation and technology on local labour markets

Abstract

[eng] The rise of new technologies and globalization has recently generated major structural changes in developed economies. These changes alter significantly economic activities and affect spatial disparities. The articles by Charnoz and Orand and by Jennequin, Miotti and Mouhoud offer two original analyses of changing patterns in local labour markets in France. They show that structural changes affect employment zones differently depending on their employment structure and their international exposure. Because of their specialisations in high value-added jobs, major cities emerge the winners from these changing patterns. The rural territories and cities traditionally specialised in routine jobs have, meanwhile, turned to computers . and robotisation and are thus experiencing a decline in these jobs. This phenomenon is magnified by offshoring. These papers have important implications for economic policies, as they identify the infranational territories that may have large effects on employment and wages trends at the national level.