Wage effects of skill mismatches across domains: the importance of ICT skills
利用德国面板数据，研究了阅读、数学、科学、推理和ICT五个领域的技能错配对工资的影响，发现ICT技能错配最为关键，ICT不足会降低工资并抵消其他技能过剩的收益，而ICT过剩可弥补其他技能不足的工资损失。
Abstract To date, it is unclear in which skills mismatches are most relevant for individuals’ wages, and whether surpluses or deficits in one domain can offset those in another. This study addresses these gaps by examining how mismatches in five key skill domains (ICT, reading, mathematics, science, and reasoning) are linked to individuals’ wages. Utilizing data from the 2016 wave of the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) Adult Cohort, our findings reveal that skill deficits consistently result in lower wages, whereas surpluses do not pay off in each domain. Notably, mismatches in ICT skills are most significant for individuals’ wages: ICT deficits not only reduce wages, but can also negate wage benefits from surpluses in other skills. Conversely, ICT surpluses can compensate for wage penalties associated with deficits in other domains. These findings underscore the importance of digital skills for productivity and wage potential in the modern labour market.