Discussion Papers,
Statistics Norway, Research Department

Abstract: In the Norwegian fabricated metal industry there has been a shift in demand from unskilled to skilled workers during the period 1972 to 1990, and relative demand for white collar employees has also increased. The paper analyses the factors behind the shift in the composition of these three kinds of labour. A translog cost function approach is applied, using an error-correction representation of the development in cost shares. The results indicate substitutability between unskilled and both skilled and white collar workers. Increased supplies of skilled workers and engineers seem to have been the most important factors for the change in the composition of employment, indicating lack of persons with these kinds of education. In addition, unskilled workers have been rationalized away as a result of technical progress.

Keywords: Labour market; employment composition; human capital; wage differentials; time series analysis.

JEL-codes: J21; J23; J31 January 1997

Full text files

dp_187.pdf  

Download statistics

• Statistics Norway, Research Department
• Home page for this series

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to L Maasø ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

RePEc:ssb:dispap:187This page generated on 2024-10-30 04:36:18.