Jeff Borland

Papers

Total Citations

140

H-Index

About

Jeff Borland is a leading Australian labour economist whose research illuminates the dynamic forces reshaping employment in the age of automation. His work centers on the intersection of technological change, job displacement, and labour market structure. Borland’s most influential contribution, "Are Robots Taking Our Jobs?" (2017, 119 citations), provides a rigorous counterpoint to alarmist narratives, demonstrating that computer-based technologies have not reduced the total volume of work in Australia, but have instead accelerated structural change and job turnover. He further refines this analysis in "Behind the Headline Number" (2019, 21 citations), where he critically evaluates the widely-cited Frey and Osborne predictions, arguing that their methodology overstates the risk of job loss from automation. Beyond these seminal papers, Borland has made enduring contributions to understanding unemployment dynamics, earnings inequality, and the economics of sport. His work is distinguished by its empirical grounding and its capacity to translate complex labour market trends into accessible, policy-relevant insights. For students and researchers, Borland offers a model of how to navigate the hype surrounding technological disruption with careful evidence and clear thinking.