Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics

No 1268: Globalization, Job Tasks and the Demand for Different Occupations

Fredrik Heyman () and Fredrik Sjöholm ()
Additional contact information
Fredrik Heyman: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Postal: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Fredrik Sjöholm: Department of Economics, Lund University, Postal: and Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: Globalization has increased in recent decades, resulting in structural changes of production and labor demand. This paper examines how the increased global engagement of firms affects the structure of the workforce. We find that the aggregate distribution of occupations in Sweden has become more skilled between 1997 and 2013. Moreover, firms with a high degree of international orientation have a relatively skilled distribution of occupations and firms with low international orientation have a relatively unskilled distribution of occupations. High- and low-skilled occupations have increased in importance whereas middle-skilled occupations have declined with a resulting job polarization. We also discuss and analyze the role played by new technology and automatization.

Keywords: Occupations; Job polarization; Globalization; Multinational enterprises; Exporter; Automatization

JEL-codes: F10; F16; F23

32 pages, March 25, 2019

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