Exporting Firms and the Demand for Skilled Tasks

25 Pages Posted: 5 Oct 2018 Last revised: 6 Oct 2018

See all articles by Irene Brambilla

Irene Brambilla

Universidad Nacional de La Plata

Daniel Lederman

World Bank - Latin America and Caribbean Region

Guido G. Porto

World Bank; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: October 4, 2018

Abstract

This paper explores the link between exports and the demand for skilled tasks. Using the Chilean Encuesta Nacional Industrial Anual (ENIA), an annual census of manufacturing firms, the analysis first shows that Chilean exporters utilize more skills than Chilean non-exporters. More importantly, there is a distinct pattern of task differentiation among exporters both within skilled and unskilled tasks. Exporting firms demand the services of skilled specialized workers (engineers) as opposed to skilled administrative workers and managers. In addition, exporters demand less unskilled labor, especially blue-collar operatives. This suggests that exporters substitute skilled engineers for unskilled blue-collar workers to perform export-related tasks.

Keywords: Skills Development and Labor Force Training, International Trade and Trade Rules, Construction Industry, Common Carriers Industry, Food & Beverage Industry, General Manufacturing, Pulp & Paper Industry, Textiles, Apparel & Leather Industry, Plastics & Rubber Industry, Business Cycles and Stabilization Policies

Suggested Citation

Brambilla, Irene and Lederman, Daniel and Porto, Guido, Exporting Firms and the Demand for Skilled Tasks (October 4, 2018). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 8603, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3260920

Irene Brambilla (Contact Author)

Universidad Nacional de La Plata ( email )

La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900
Argentina

Daniel Lederman

World Bank - Latin America and Caribbean Region ( email )

1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/site/danielledermanworldbank/

Guido Porto

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

HOME PAGE: http://econ.worldbank.org/staff/gporto

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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