The OECD’s annual Employment Outlook 2017 sheds light on the growing polarisation of wage and income distribution - employment rates in lower and higher qualified sectors of work are increasing, whereas the proportion of jobs in mid-qualified sectors is decreasing. In answer to this, the sixth workshop of the TriECON Series brought forward topics like inequality and polarisation. In total, more than 20 researchers took part in the workshop. Therefore, the TriECON online conference represents an important virtual opportunity to maintain scientific exchange, even during the pandemic.
The presentations during this workshop were primarily dedicated to the causes and consequences of this growing inequality and job polarisation. One presented study analysed the effect of migration on the polarising pattern in the employment structure. Another study investigated whether changes in labor market institutions (trade unions, minimum wage etc.) have an effect on the structure of employment. In addition, one project focussed on the discrepancy between acquired and requested qualifications in a time of recession. On top of that, other issues like wage negotiations of employees, digitalisation and offshoring were discussed in the context of job polarisation. The presentations and their results once again underlined the need for adequate policies to counteract the polarisation of wage and income distribution. You can find the complete program of the workshop here.
We would like to thank all participants for their interesting presentations and numerous comments and suggestions, making the workshop very successful!
For more information on the TriECON Workshop Series please visit our website.