威脅或賦能：科技發展對勞工認知的影響–36國比較研究

Technology development in the artificial intelligence era has a profound impact on the labor market. This study seeks to resolve the issue of whether technology serves as a threat to replace the human labor, or as an enabler to allow the workforce do more meaningful jobs. Also, based on social capital and human capital theories, this study tests whether the workforce’s social capital, as measured by self-reported relationship with managers and coworkers, and human capital, as measured by self-reported use of past skills and experience and continued training, serve as moderators on the relationship between technology advancement and its consequences. The sample contains 37 countries. All variables are analyzed at the country level using data collected from existing survey data archive. The technology advancement data was collected by the World Economic Forum for its Networked Readiness Index (NRI), while data for the other variables were collected by the International Social Survey Programme, under the ISSP 2015 – Work Orientations IV. Hierarchical regression was used to test the hypothesized relationships, while controlling GDP and percent of knowledge workers in each country. Results show technology advancement neither as a threat nor as an enabler at the country level. Specifically, technology advancement is significant in decreasing the workforce’s perception of job insecurity, and has no effect in enhancing the perception of job enrichment. Social capital shows a negative moderating effect on the already negative relationship between technology advancement and perceived job insecurity. None other moderating effects were found. Furthermore, in regards to job enrichment perception, social capital and human capital seem to have a stronger effect than technology advancement.