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Digital economy, technological competencies and the job matching process

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Zamberlan
  • Alessio Tomelleri
  • Antonio Schizzerotto
  • Paolo Barbieri

Abstract

Mastering digital skills is an increasingly important factor in the job matching process. This paper employs experimental methods to study how recruiters assess digital skills in the labour markets of Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The aim is to determine the causal impact of job applicants’ digital competences on recruiters’ assessment within the hiring process. The analysis further explores the heterogeneous effects of digital skills in the distribution of opportunities for candidates with varying levels of education applying to high- and mid/low-skilled jobs. Our results show that intermediate and advanced digital skills increase a candidate’s employability, with larger effects in the UK, a highly flexible labour market characterised by the relevance of general educational skills and relatively high returns to tertiary education. Focusing on heterogeneity by education and job types, the impact of digital skills is not univocal and highlights differing patterns across labour markets in shaping job candidate opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Zamberlan & Alessio Tomelleri & Antonio Schizzerotto & Paolo Barbieri, 2024. "Digital economy, technological competencies and the job matching process," FBK-IRVAPP Working Papers 2024-04, Research Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies (IRVAPP), Bruno Kessler Foundation.
    • Handle: RePEc:fbk:wpaper:2024-04
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital skills; Education; Hiring intentions; Job matching; Factorial survey experiment; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D25 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice: Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General

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