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Digitalization is not gender-neutral

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  • Genz, Sabrina
  • Schnabel, Claus

Abstract

Using unique linked employer-employee data for Germany and a matching approach, we provide novel insights on the individual-level employment effects of digitalization. We show that the first-time introduction of digital technology in an establishment affects women more strongly than men. This holds both in terms of lower days employed and higher days unemployed. We find that employment losses are largest for individuals conducting non-routine tasks, and again it is women who suffer the most. Our insights imply that digitalization is not gender-neutral, suggesting that it is important to avoid a gender bias in technological progress.

Suggested Citation

  • Genz, Sabrina & Schnabel, Claus, 2023. "Digitalization is not gender-neutral," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:230:y:2023:i:c:s0165176523002811
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111256
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Genz, Sabrina & Gregory, Terry & Janser, Markus & Lehmer, Florian & Matthes, Britta, 2021. "How do workers adjust when firms adopt new technologies?," ZEW Discussion Papers 21-073, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn, 2017. "The Gender Wage Gap: Extent, Trends, and Explanations," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(3), pages 789-865, September.
    3. Sandra E. Black & Alexandra Spitz-Oener, 2010. "Explaining Women's Success: Technological Change and the Skill Content of Women's Work," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 92(1), pages 187-194, February.
    4. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2019. "Automation and New Tasks: How Technology Displaces and Reinstates Labor," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(2), pages 3-30, Spring.
    5. Bonin, Holger & Steffes, Susanne & Hillerich-Sigg, Annette & Krause-Pilatus, Annabelle & Rinne, Ulf & Gehlen, Annica & Koch, Niklas & Ody, Margard & Teschner, Mia, 2021. "Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung der Arbeitswelt auf die Erwerbstätigkeit von Frauen," IZA Research Reports 107, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Wolfgang Dauth & Sebastian Findeisen & Jens Suedekum & Nicole Woessner, 2021. "The Adjustment of Labor Markets to Robots [“Skills, Tasks and Technologies: Implications for Employment and Earnings]," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 19(6), pages 3104-3153.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zou, Ziran & Fu, Jiayi & Zeng, Yeqin & Huang, Yuxuan, 2024. "Do young CEOs matter for corporate digital transformation?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digitalization; Gender; Employment; Separations; Tasks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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