COVID-Driven Technology Adoption and Worker Inequality in the U.S.

Companies have significantly accelerated automation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous literature has found that recessions and automation result in an increased demand for employees with more advanced skills. However, there is little direct evidence that automation has an upskilling effect. Economist Anna Malinovskaya will examine how automation during the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the demand for workers’ skills. She will analyze data from multiple data sources including the Technology Modules of the Annual Business Survey, the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey, and the Aberdeen Computer Intelligence Technology Database for her study.