The Impact of Information Technology

How has information technology affected workers in Canada? As the chart below shows, 38 percent of employed workers in Canada report that new computers or automated technology have ‘greatly’ affected their jobs over the past five years, while another 21 percent say that their jobs are ‘somewhat’ affected, and just over 41 percent say their jobs have been ‘hardly’ or ‘not at all’ affected. Overall, women and men are equally likely to report that technology affects their jobs.

A Majority of Workers Report Their Jobs Have Been Affected By New Technology

At an aggregate level, there is little difference in the proportion of women and men who report that IT greatly affects their jobs, however there are substantial gender differences within specific occupations. As the chart below shows, the share of women who report that new technology greatly affects their jobs is smaller than that of men in the same occupations. It is only in clerical occupations – traditionally a largely female dominated area of employment – that women are more likely than men to say that new technology greatly affects their jobs.

Within Most Occupations, Women Are Less Likely to Say Their Job Has Been Greatly Affected by New Technology

How do education and income influence the impact of IT? As the chart below indicates, university graduates are twice as likely as those with a high school education or less to say their jobs are greatly affected by new technologies (58 percent versus 28 percent). High Income earners ($60,000 or more) are three times more likely than low-income earners (under $20,000) to say their jobs are greatly affected by new technologies.

Impacts of New Workplace Technology Increases With Education and Income

It is noteworthy that large proportions of individuals with lower levels of educational attainment and personal income report that technological change somewhat or greatly affects their jobs (between 40 and 50 percent). These findings underscore the fact that technology is transforming workplaces. However, technology in Canada’s workplaces seems to affect knowledge workers more than other workers.

Additional Charts and Information