The complex relationship between automation and work intensity: evidence from selected EU countries

ABSTRACT

The article explores how automation affects work intensity. Based on the findings, on the one hand, a higher automation level in a sector is characterised by a higher number of individuals working at high speeds. On the other hand, no robust effect was found on working to tight deadlines or working longer hours. These findings are consistent when controlling for different company and country factors. The results, first, imply that in the context of the growing prevalence of automation workers who do or will have to work with such technologies might face degradation of their working conditions. From a policy perspective, the findings indicate that overwork-related regulations that control overtime will likely not curb the negative effects of automation on working conditions as they might not cover working intensity, which is often difficult to measure.

KEYWORDS:

• Automation
• Europe
• mixed effects models
• work intensity

JEL CLASSIFICATION:

• J81
• J24

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).