Does digitalization promote net job creation? Empirical evidence from WAEMU countries

Désiré Avom, Aimé Kocou Dadegnon and Charlemagne Babatoundé Igue

Telecommunications Policy, 2021, vol. 45, issue 8

Abstract: This article aims to study the impact of the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in terms of net job creation, from the countries of the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). In other words, do ICTs create more than they destroy jobs? To answer this question, this study focuses on a panel data econometrics technique covering the period from 2000 to 2017. The results indicate that ICT destroys 0.03% of low and medium-skilled jobs on the one hand and driving demand and creating 0.05% of high-skilled jobs on the other hand. The total effect of ICT on jobs is therefore positive and concludes in net creation. We therefore suggest to the leaders of concerned countries to accentuate policies to match training and employment with particular emphasis on training in electronics, telecommunications and especially digitalization.

Keywords: ICT; Jobs; Creation/destruction effect; Professional qualifications; WAEMU (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J23 L96 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2021.102215

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