Cambiamento tecnologico e lavoro qualificato nel settore tessile (1980-2000)

This paper investigates the effects of the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the skills of a workforce. Using micro-data collected from workers in the textile sector, we analyse whether the introduction of ICT has modified workers’ tasks, so that higher skills and longer training periods than before are necessary. Our survey has shown that ICT i) have replaced unskilled labour in some cases and skilled labour in others; ii) have changed workers’ tasks in some cases but not in others; and finally, iii) have brought about an increase in skills for only a sub-set of occupations. This empirical evidence suggests that the adoption of ICT has not a universal skill biased effect for all occupations at least in the textile sector.