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AbstractWe analyze the changes in the task content of jobs in 24 European countries between 1998 and 2015. We link the O*NET occupational data with the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU‐LFS), and use the methodology of Acemoglu and Autor (). We find that the intensity of non‐routine cognitive tasks grew in all countries, while the intensity of manual tasks declined. Workforce upskilling was the major factor contributing to these developments. The intensity of routine cognitive tasks grew in most Central and Eastern European countries, but it declined in Western European countries. This difference is attributed to the contrasting patterns of structural changes in these groups of countries.

Abstract Educational attainment increased markedly in New Zealand between 1986 and 2001, while the income premia for higher qualifications first increased and then stabilised or decreased over the 1990s. We first document the growth in qualification‐based skills and then examine its contribution to average income growth and the relationship with relative demand changes. Of the 15 per cent increase in real average incomes between 1986 and 2001, upskilling accounted for 25 per cent, while 70 per cent was due to income growth across all qualifications. The pattern of qualification employment share and relative income changes provides evidence of changing demand for skills within detailed industry–occupation cells.

Greece has a long and honourable tradition in merchant shipping and its economy vitally depends on shipping. Therefore, a strong and efficient Greek merchant marine will be a prime factor in the strategy of economic prosperity and prestige. At the same time it is well known that our Maritime Education and Training (MET) is faltering. Today's technological advances with substantial reductions in manning levels have led to a considerable reorganization of shipboard operations. In close connection, private enterprises are in favour of fully automated vessels with low running costs and efficient master and officers to run the ship smoomthly, safely and profitably. This calls for training to be more realistic and more relevant than it has been traditionally. However, to succeed in such a scheme the modernization of MET is highly desirable to keep pace with this rapid technological and social evolution of the marine industry. In view of the above, the aim of the present thesis is to examine the structure of maritime education in Greece with a view to bringing about the necessary changes in the short and long run. This study should be compared with the existing conditions of the Greek seafaring community. Its target is a competitive, effective and safety-orientated merchant marine for the benefit of all parties concerned. The study is a personal reflection "status quo" without the influence of any emotional or traditional inhibitions on the part of the government or shipowners. Its main aim is to approach from a different point of view the currently known problems with respect to the upgrading of the qualititive standards of the Greek seafarers and those related to the marine industry.