The role of computer skills on the occupation level

Abstract

This paper explores the question of computer skills applicability on individual occupation level in the Netherlands using two web-based data sources: the WageIndicator online survey and job vacancies posted online. The aim of this study is to explore these innovative data sources and compare the information obtained from them with the computer skill requirements inferred from the ISCO occupation classifications. Using the WageIndicator survey, we found a very high incidence of computer use reported by the holders of nearly all office occupations and a substantial degree of computer use by the holders of skilled manual occupations. With a partial exception of the unskilled work in elementary occupations, we find that Dutch job holders are very likely to use computers even in occupations, which are not associated with any relevant tasks. We were able to confirm the robustness of our finding by benchmarking our figures against the PIAAC survey. An older version of this article has been published as a dissertation chapter (Fabo, 2017).