Competition Between Intelligent Machines and Digital Personnel: The Coming Crisis in the Labor Market During the Transition to the Cyber Economy

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the chapter is systemic study of the future labor market in the cyber economy in view of the influence of not only the demographic factor but also of the more important technological factor, which is connected to formation and increase of competition between intellectual machines and digital personnel.

Methodology: The authors determine the influence of the demographic and technological factors on the future of the Russian labor market. The authors perform analysis of statistical data for the Russian labor market, which allows forecasting further expansion of the spheres and popularization of automatization of the production and distribution processes in the Russian economy. Thus, the need for digital personnel will reduce, as their functions will be taken over by intelligent machines.

Results: It is determined that in modern Russia no efforts are made for assessment of the potential needs for digital personnel either at the government, university, or corporate levels. Training of digital personnel is announced as a strategic priority of the national program “Digital economy of the Russian Federation” dated July 28, 2017, No. 1632-r. In view of the determined highly probable negative influence of the technological factor (growth of competition of intelligent machines and digital personnel), it is possible to forecast a crisis of the Russian labor market in the future.

Conclusions: It is substantiated that a crisis is imminent in the Russian labor market: firstly, due to growth of competition of digital personnel under the influence of the increase of their number and, secondly, due to establishment and growth of competition of intelligent machines and digital personnel. It is concluded that it is necessary to have state anti-crisis management of the Russian labor market.