New research conducted by the Ifo Institute, in collaboration with the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the University of Konstanz, indicates that for employees engaged in predominantly physical labor, increased workplace digitalization is often accompanied by poorer health and a higher rate of sick leave.
Oliver Schlenker, Deputy Head of the Ifo Center for Social Market Economy in Fürth, noted that employees without traditional office jobs report reduced overall well-being and more absences as digitalization intensifies. “Our findings suggest that digital change could exacerbate existing health disparities,” he stated.
The study compared two groups: those with mainly physical tasks and those with mainly mental or office-based duties. Both groups are experiencing similar major changes in their jobs due to digitalization-which includes the increasing use of intelligent software and hardware, including AI. Tasks are becoming more complex, and pressure regarding time and performance is increasing. However, only employees in physical professions reported a significant decline in their health status. On average, they took about 20 percent more days off due to digitalization.
Conversely, no verifiable negative correlation was found among knowledge and office workers. The situation suggests that digitalization might deepen existing health inequalities, especially since employees with physical jobs and low formal education are already more susceptible to health burdens. Schlenker offered a potential explanation: “Technostress. New digital demands can be particularly stressful when employees lack the necessary skills and experience.”
The research found that targeted digital training and support from employers seem to mitigate this correlation. Employees who participated in training showed little decline in health and no additional sick days. Moreover, a supportive leadership culture appears beneficial. Staff who feel well-supported by their supervisors experienced significantly fewer additional sick days as their workplace became more digitized. However, the researchers found no evidence that rising wages compensated for these health strains.
It is important to note that the study distinguishes between digitalization and classical computerization. While computers and standard software have long been commonplace for many workers, digitalization, in the context of this study, specifically refers to smart technology. This includes networked machines, sensors, Big Data applications, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and virtual and augmented reality.
