Current Population Survey data were used to demonstrate that increases in computer use (and thus decreases in demand for physical skills) account for one-half of the growth in demand for female workers. The greatest effect was for blue-collar workers and those with less than college education. (SK)

Appraises the impact of unions on the wages of nonprofessional hospital employees in 21 metropolitan areas in 1966, 1969, and 1972. Effect of other wage determinants is also examined. Analysis shows that impact has been significant and that it has been greater in private than in public hospitals. (Editor/LAS)

Changes in the aggregate distribution of job skills result from changes in the distribution of employment among occupations as well as from changes in the skill requirements of individual occupations. This study measures the effects of these factors on the distribution of skills in the United States from 1960-1979. (Author/CT)

Examination of production jobs in 93 manufacturing firms (1978-86) and clerical jobs in 211 firms (1978-88) suggests (1) significant upskilling within most production jobs; (2) in clerical jobs, an even split between raised and lowered skill levels; and (3) decreasing skill levels associated with office automation. (SK)

Develops a theory to integrate the effects of three factors--the relative supply elasticities of skilled and unskilled labor, adjustments in skilled labor hiring standards, and the presence of fixed employment costs for skilled labor--on the response of skill differentials to demand variation. (Editor/LAS)

Shows that skill differential in manufacturing, when measured on a national level, has remained surprisingly stable over the 1952-73 period, in spite of its history of narrowing throughout the first half of the century and severe pressures of inflation since 1965. (Editor/LAS)

Local job banks, computer aided man-job matching systems, are the spearhead of the multiphased Federal program to improve the functioning of the labor market information system. As evaluated here, the program may eventually achieve this objective but the evidence concerning the first phase is not encouraging. (DS)

A survey of 205 child care centers found that, controlling for wages and institutional characteristics, as the level of fringe benefits rises, hours of work by part-time teachers decrease significantly. Health insurance payments have an effect more than twice that of other fringe benefits. (SK)