Job replacement or job transformation? Definition, consequences, and sources of technology-driven job insecurity

Abstract

: During the digital transformation of Chinese enterprises, effectively alleviating and coping with employee job insecurity is crucial for building harmonious and stable labor relations. Although traditional job insecurity research has extensively examined the sources and consequences of job insecurity, it has paid little attention to the rapid development and application of artificial intelligence technology, which is an essential context for the current organizational management practice and research. This study innovatively puts forward a new concept of technology-driven job insecurity in the context of artificial intelligence, reflecting individual perceived job insecurity due to the development and application of artificial intelligence technology. Our study has three objectives. First, we theorize the definition and dimensionality of technology-driven job insecurity and propose job replacement insecurity and job transformation insecurity as the two core dimensions of technology-driven job insecurity. Second, we examine the effects of technology-driven job insecurity on employee work and career outcomes. Third, we explore the sources of technology-driven job insecurity. This study not only enriches the research on job insecurity in the context of artificial intelligence but also has implications for building harmonious and stable labor relations and improving employee well-being at work during the digital transformation of Chinese enterprises.