Ian Christie, Jim Northcott and Annette Walling
A decade ago, as the microelectronics revolution gathered pace, many feared that the new technologies based on the microchip would create massive unemployment. It was also widely argued that the diffusion of microelectronics would lead to deskilling of workers and workplace opposition to change.
This book is the latest report in PSI's series of authoritative studies on the impact of microelectronics in manufacturing. It presents the results of a new analysis of PSI survey data gathered over the past decade, as well as the findings of a set of case study interviews in British factories designed to explore the impact on jobs and skills in detail at plant level. The case studies reinforce the message of the PSI surveys in new technology in manufacturing, that so far the microchip has been much less of a threat to jobs and skills in the workplace than has been supposed.
1990 ISBN 0 85374 495 5
Report number 716
Contents:
Summary of Findings of PSI Surveys on Diffusion of Microelectronics, 1981-1987
Direct Employment Effects and Associated Factors
Indirect Employment Effects: Putting Technology in Context
Employment Changes at Factory Level
Management of Technological Change
Summary and Discussion of Findings