Technological Change and Wages: How Shifts in Job Tasks Shape Workers’ Earnings

Abstract

"This report shows that wages developed very differently across occupations depending on how strongly their task content changed in response to technological progress. Occupations that moved away from easily automatable routine tasks – such as data entry, standardized processing, or simple production steps – towards more complex non-routine cognitive tasks like problem-solving, coordination, or advisory work experienced noticeable wage growth. By contrast, occupations whose task profile remained largely routine saw wages stagnate or decline. These findings highlight that adapting the job tasks of occupations and investing in further training are key mechanisms enabling workers to benefit from technological change." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bachmann, R., Demir, G., Green, C. & Uhlendorff, A. (2026): Technologischer Wandel und Löhne: Die Anpassung der Berufe spielt eine entscheidende Rolle. (IAB-Kurzbericht 01/2026), Nürnberg, 8 p. DOI:10.48720/IAB.KB.2601