Francesco Trentini (University of Milano-Bicocca)

LABOR Seminar – Online job ads data for economic research. Features and applications

Official statistics are undergoing a transformative shift marked by the integration of innovative data sources that allow insights into various phenomena at unprecedented levels of detail. The use of publicly accessible web data, generated by agents’ online activities, represents the forefront of this evolution, offering a promising source of fast and granular information on phenomena otherwise difficult to observe. Particularly, online job advertisements (OJA) stand out as a valuable resource through which to examine the characteristics of job requirements and occupations’ characteristics, for a novel view on labour demand.
This seminar delves into Eurostat’s use of OJA data as a cornerstone of its advanced web data platform. The presentation encompasses an overview of the data production process, highlighting both the advantages and limitations inherent in the use of OJA data. Furthermore, the seminar provides examples, showcasing how this innovative data source can cast light on labour demand and the evolving skill requirements in the European job market.