Does Automation Always Lead to a Decline in Low-Wage Jobs?

Daniel Aaronson and Brian J. Phelan

Chicago Fed Letter, 2019, No 413

Abstract: To what extent are low-wage jobs in the United States being replaced by technology? Our research suggests that low-wage jobs that are intensive in routine cognitive tasks, such as cashier, were supplanted by automation during the 2000s. Moreover, since the Great Recession, jobs intensive in both routine manual and routine cognitive tasks have been negatively impacted by automation. Nevertheless, the overall effect on individual low-wage workers has been surprisingly small.

Keywords: wages; Employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.21033/cfl-2019-413

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