Changes in the Functional Structure of Firms and the Demand for Skill

Eric Maurin and David Thesmar

Journal of Labor Economics, 2004, vol. 22, issue 3, 639-664

Abstract: We analyze recent changes in the occupational structure of French manufacturing firms. Firms employ a greater proportion of engineers working on the design and marketing of new products and a lower proportion of high-skill experts working in administration-related activities. Firms have also reduced the share of production-related activities at both the levels of high-skill and low-skill workers. We develop a labor demand model that shows the role played by technological change. New technologies make it possible to allocate more human resources to the activities that are the most difficult to program in advance.

Date: 2004
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Working Paper: Changes in the Functional Structure of Firms and the Demand for Skill (2004)
Working Paper: Changes in the Functional Structure of Firms and the Demand for Skill (2003)
Working Paper: Change in the Functional Structure of Firms and the Demand for Skill (2001)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:22:y:2004:i:3:p:649-664

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