Tasks and skills at the workplace
In a production process, the execution of tasks leads to output in the form of products or services. Some tasks are performed by people, while other tasks are performed by machines. Human tasks, which are bundled in occupations, and machine tasks can be complementary to each other, but can also be substitutable. Workers can use their knowledge and skills to carry out tasks and differ in the extent to which they are able to perform tasks effectively and efficiently. In other words, skills do not directly ensure the production of output, but only if these skills are linked to the effective and efficient performance of certain tasks. This project aim at better understanding workers’ job tasks and the skills requirements in jobs. However, because of technical change, organisational change and internationalisation, the match between human and machine tasks is not static. This project therefore also studies changes in worker’s tasks and skills over time.
Funded by: LLO-Katalysator, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Duration: 2013-2024
Publications
- Weel, B. ter, Berg, E. van den, Pritsch, D., Fouarge, D., Künn, A. & Lansink, X. (2025). Taken en vaardigheden op het werk, 2012-2024. Ontwikkeling van vraag en aanbod van werktaken op basis van de Nederlandse Skills survey. Amsterdam: SEO Rapport (te verschijnen).
- Berg, E. van den, Eldert, P. van, Fouarge, D., & Weel, B. ter (2018). Taken en vaardigheden op het werk. Bevindingen uit de eerste en tweede Nederlandse Skills survey. Maastricht: ROA-R-2018/6.
- Elsayed, A., De Grip, A., & Fouarge, D. (2017). Job tasks, computer use, and the decreasing part-time pay penalty for women in the UK. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 55(1): 58-82.
- Fouarge, D. (2017). Veranderingen in werk en vaardigheden. Oratie, Maastricht University.
- Fouarge, D. (2017). Veranderingen in de vraag naar vaardigheden. Tijdschrift voor het Economisch Onderwijs, 114 (6), 18-21.
- Fouarge, D., W. Smits, J. de Vries, R. de Vries (2017). Ongelijkheid en veranderingen in de beroepenstructuur. In: K. Chkalova, J. van Genabeek, J. Sanders, W. Smits, Dynamiek op de Nederlandse arbeidsmarkt. Focus op ongelijkheid. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek/TNO, Den Haag/Heerlen/Bonaire/Leiden.
- Fouarge, D. & M. Levels (2016). Automatisering en polarisering op de arbeidsmarkt. ESB, 4744, 27 December 2016.
- Fouarge, D. & A. de Grip (2013). Complexiteit, specialisatie en effectiviteit van het werk in Nederland. In: B. ter Weel & S. Kok. De Nederlandse arbeidsmarkt in taken. Eerste bevindingen uit de Nederlandse Skills Survey. CPB: The Hague.
- B. ter Weel & S. Kok (2013). De Nederlandse arbeidsmarkt in taken. Eerste bevindingen uit de Nederlandse Skills Survey. CPB: The Hague.
Data
This project follows on an earlier research project initiated by CPB (2012 wave). The 2017 wave was gathered with funding from Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The 2024 wave was funded by the LLO-Katalysator.
The three waves of data gathering were organised as part of LISS.