The Labour Market Impacts of High Technology [microform] : Implications for the Universities / Laura J. Selleck

Implications for universities of high technology industries and the labor market are unclear. There is a need to ease the transition for those categories of workers who will be affected: women, low- and medium-skill workers in manufacturing, and certain categories of middle-level managers. The provision of highly qualified personnel is the universities' most obvious role in a technological society; the good jobs of the future will require more scientific knowledge and higher technical skills. However, it is less certain that this kind of training is required for the entire labor force. The five occupations expected to produce the most new jobs are all in low skilled areas: janitors, nurses' aides, sales clerks, cashiers, and waiters and waitresses. There is evidence that traditional middle-level jobs in manufacturing and business will be highly susceptible to displacement or deskilling because of the introduction of robotics and various information technologies. Universities need to conduct research on the long-term impact of microelectronics and other technologies, including the characteristics of new jobs, and the broader societal impacts. Retraining programs will have to concentrate on generic skills with emphasis on the ability to adapt and learn. Attention to skill development and recurrent adult education will also be important. (SW)