Industry 4.0: Challenges and Opportunities for the Labor Market

Abstract

Main problem: In the 18th century, when industrial production began, the use of steam and mechanized production caused major changes in the economy. As a result, production costs decreased along with an increase in the quantity and quality of products. During this period, production underwent a revolutionary transition from manual labor to mechanization. The potential impact of Industry 4.0 on labor markets remains an under-explored scientific field. It is estimated that Industry 4.0 will lead to unemployment by changing the employment structure and will bring new structural problems in terms of unemployment and labor relations. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish the impact of Industry 4.0 on the labor market and identify the consequences of the impact. Methods: studied, the evolution of production development, when mass production with electricity led to the Age of Industry 2.0, and then the emergence of the digital revolution, the use of electronics and information technology in production processes, marked the beginning of the Age of Industry 3.0. It is expected, according to international experts, scientists, that automation and robotic production will have a serious impact on the unskilled workforce and cause a critical reduction in the labor force of vulnerable sectors of society, that is, women, migrants, youth and the elderly. Results and their significance: This study assessed the possible impact of the fourth industrial revolution on labor markets. Through a literature review and analysis of emerging trends in Industry 4.0, the risks, opportunities and challenges of the process are explored in a comparative perspective. It has been established that countries must correctly perceive the transformation of labor markets and take appropriate measures. Otherwise, the applied labor-based low-cost industrialization model will lose its comparative advantage.