Increased use of information and communication technologies at work

A recent survey published by the National Institute of Statistics reveals that, in Romania, the average proportion of employees using personal computers at the workplace increased during the period 2005–2007 from 18% to 33%, while the percentage of personnel using internet connections at work more than doubled from 12.8% to 26.5%. However, the data reveal significant variations among economic sectors and in different regions of the country.

About the study

The National Institute of Statistics (Institutul Naţional de Statistică, INS) publishes an annual study entitled ‘Information society’, based on data from the ‘Survey regarding information and communication technology (ICT) products used in companies and institutions’. The data are collected using questionnaires in companies, banking and insurance institutions, public administration and higher education establishments, and are then harmonised with Eurostat’s Methodological manual for statistics on the information society (1.9Mb PDF).

Main findings

The study focused on the comparative information related to the use of personal computers (PCs) and internet connections at the workplace in the four sectors of economic activity included in the survey, as well as according to geographical region.

Employees using PCs at work

Sectoral differences

The proportion of employees using PCs at the workplace increased from 18% in 2005 to 33% in 2007. Banks and insurance companies have the highest computer density, at 90%. Manufacturing and construction ranked in last position in this regard, but the indicator almost doubled during the period 2005–2007 – showing a 90.9% growth rate compared with an increase of only 2.3% in the banking sector, which has practically reached a saturation ratio of 1:1 (Table 1).

Table 1: Employees using PCs at work, by sector, 2005–2007 (%)

Sectors	2005	2007	% growth rate 2005–2007
Manufacturing and construction	11	21	90.9
Trade	35	55	57.1
Market services	39	58	48.7
Banking and insurance	88	90	2.3
Total	18	33	83.3

Source: Data taken from the ‘Information society’ study, INS, Bucharest, 2008 and 2009

Regional differences

The highest proportion of employees using PCs at work is reported in the Bucharest region, while the lowest level is registered in the southwest region of the country (Table 2). More specifically, in 2007, one out of two employees used a PC at work in Bucharest, whereas in the southwest region only one out of five employees used a PC at the workplace. Nevertheless, the differential ratio between both regions decreased from 2.75:1 in 2005 to 2.32:1 in 2007, due a greater growth rate in the southwest of the country – albeit from a very low base.

The relatively high level of computer use registered in Bucharest is explained by the larger number of employees in banking and insurance institutions – sectors with the greatest computer usage – concentrated in this region.

Table 2: Employees using PCs at work, by region, 2005–2007 (%)

Regions	2005	2007	% growth rate 2005–2007
Romania, total	18.1	33.3	84.0
Northeast	15.5	29.0	87.1
Southeast	15.0	27.4	82.7
South	16.3	25.9	58.9
Southwest	9.3	21.5	131.2
West	18.3	25.4	38.8
Northwest	17.5	30.1	72.0
Centre	15.5	27.5	77.4
Bucharest	25.6	49.9	94.9

Source: ‘Information society’ study, INS, 2008 and 2009

Internet connection at work

Sectoral differences

Both in 2005 and in 2007, the banking and insurance sector was ahead of other economic sectors with regard to the proportion of employees using the internet at work. By way of contrast, manufacturing and construction, which are characterised by more physically demanding work, ranked in last position (see figure).

Employees using the internet at work, by sector (%)

Source: ‘Information society’ study, INS, 2008 and 2009

Regional differences

In Romania, in 2007, an average of 26.5% of employees had access to an internet connection at work, which was more than double the proportion in 2005 (Table 3). By region, the difference between the top (Bucharest) and the bottom (southwest region) of the scale in terms of internet access at work is still about 20 percentage points.

Table 3: Employees using internet connections at work, by region, 2005–2007 (%)

Regions	2005	2007	Growth rate (2007/2005, %)
Romania, total	12.8	26.5	107.0
Northeast	8.6	23.9	177.9
Southeast	10.9	23.2	112.8
South	7.2	21.7	201.4
Southwest	5.6	17.1	205.4
West	10.9	20.7	89.9
Northwest	12.5	25.8	106.4
Centre	8.4	23.1	175.0
Bucharest	23.4	37.2	59.0

Source: ‘Information society’ study, INS, 2008 and 2009

Commentary

The data for 2005–2007 indicate that the speed at which ICT is gaining ground is much higher in the sectors and regions that were once significantly behind in terms of access. The existing interregional gaps with regard to usage are explained, to some extent, by the differences in the sectoral structure of employment and work content.

However, Romania has still a long way to go to catch up with other European Union Member States in terms of access to ICT at the workplace. According to Eurostat data, in 2008, the proportion of companies using internet connections was 93% on average in the EU27 and 67% in Romania. In the EU27, in the first quarter of 2008, 26% of employees used an internet connection at the workplace compared with 9% of workers in Romania.

Constantin Ciutacu, Institute of National Economy, Romanian Academy