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Did industrialization improve the skill composition of the population? Evidence from Sweden, 1870 to 1930

Author

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  • Heikkuri, Suvi

    (Unit for Economic History, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

Abstract

This paper documents the changing skill composition during industrialization in Sweden using population censuses and HISCO/HISCLASS scheme. The results reveal a general shift from unskilled to more-skilled occupations, though the trend differs by gender and sector. First, the skill upgrading was more pronounced for women, who left agriculture for better job opportunities elsewhere. Second, within manufacturing, there was a shift from medium-skilled to low- and unskilled occupations, consistent with the workshop-to-factory shift. However, this trend is mirrored by skill upgrading within services, where the expansion of trade and transport introduced new more-skilled jobs. Finally, I show that skill distribution in Sweden exhibited similar trends to the United States, though with greater deskilling and slower increase in white-collar employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Heikkuri, Suvi, 2024. "Did industrialization improve the skill composition of the population? Evidence from Sweden, 1870 to 1930," Göteborg Papers in Economic History 39, University of Gothenburg, Unit for Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunhis:0039
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    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/2077/80551
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrialization; Technological change; Structural change; Occupational structure; Skills; Sweden;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-

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