TECHNOLOGICAL-CHANGE AND THE SPATIAL RESTRUCTURING OF DATA-ENTRY AND PROCESSING SERVICES

Technological change in the data entry and processing industry has profound implications for the future location and nature of industry jobs. Without specific policies, rural areas of the U.S. will be the clear jobs losers as improvements in telecommunications and imaging technologies accelerate the movement offshore of data entry. The urban-anchored firms in this industry are increasingly specialized and provide unique products designed in conjunction with clients. One implication is that these firms will remain located near urban markets and use higher-skilled labor. These activities will not filter down to rural economies.