Building a digital workforce – technology, training, and productivity

Tony Fang
Business and Labour Market Analysis Division
2003. Chapter 6 (pp. 138-148) in Canada's Journey to an Information Society, Heidi Ertl and George Sciadas (Eds.), Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 56-508-XIE

Context

As we become immersed in information and technology, Canada's economic prosperity, development, and social and cultural cohesion depend as never before on the knowledge, training, skills and ideas of her citizens, which are required to move forward in what we now know as the 'Information Society'.

Objectives

This study determines how technology and training are linked in the workplace.

Findings

About 61% of employees used a computer at work in 1999. The proportion varies by industry, firm size and regions.

There is considerable evidence that technology and training in the workplace are interrelated. Most of the industries and regions topping in computer use were also likely to support computer-related training.

The distribution of computer training also differs by worker characteristics. Older workers and younger workers, as well as the less-educated workers are less likely to receive training.

Positive impact of computer use has been found both on workplace performance (such as innovation and productivity) and worker outcomes (such as wages, job, and monetary satisfaction).

Interestingly, research based on the WES has shown that sizable productivity gains can be achieved by combining technology investment with human capital investments, especially by providing computer training to less educated workers.

Data source: Workplace and Employee Survey (WES).