Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization

Ol&#039;ga Komarova; Sof&#039;ya Refenius

doi:10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220

JEL

J21 J24 O33

TRANSFORMATION OF THE LABOR MARKET IN THE CONTEXT OF ECONOMIC DIGITALIZATION Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization

АА Аа

Published in Theoretical economics · Pages 207–220 · Rubric: YOUNG RESEARCHERS

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220

Received: 27.01.2026 Accepted: 30.03.2026 Published: 31.03.2026

Authors

Ol'ga Komarova

SPIN

Sof'ya Refenius

Ol'ga Komarova

Academic degree: doctor of economic sciences

Science rang: professor

Yaroslavl State Technical University Russian Federation

SPIN

Sof'ya Refenius

Yaroslavl State Technical University Russian Federation · Yaroslavl

ABSTRACT

The digital transformation of the economy creates a paradoxical situation: historically low unemployment rates coexist with an acute shortage of personnel possessing competencies adequate for the new technological paradigm. Existing research is fragmented: some studies focus on corporate empirics, others on the risks of polarization, and still others on institutional mechanisms. At the same time, the key contradiction remains out of focus – the leading nature of sectoral digitalization compared to the dynamics of the population’s digital literacy. The purpose of this article is to identify and statistically verify the relationship between the level of workers’ digital competencies and their competitiveness in the labor market in the context of a growing technological gap. The empirical base consisted of data from Rosstat on the use of information technologies in organizations and households for 2010–2024, as well as the results of monitoring the digital literacy index by the NAFI analytical center for 2018–2025, covering all federal districts of Russia. Data processing was carried out using time series analysis, comparative structural analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis with statistical significance testing using Student’s t-test. It was found that in 2025, for the first time in seven years, a decrease in the digital literacy index by 3 percentage points was recorded, with a critical reduction in the share of advanced users from 32% to 21%. A strong positive correlation was revealed between the level of digital competencies and worker competitiveness (r = 0.78; p < 0.05), confirmed by a calculated t-test value of 3.52. The structure of in-demand competencies was determined, including hybrid skills, analytical literacy, the ability to interact with artificial intelligence systems, and digital security. The results can be used to adjust state policy in the sphere of labor and education, and to develop professional retraining programs and corporate training systems. The limitations of the study are related to the time lag in the publication of official statistics. A promising direction for future research is the analysis of the impact of generative artificial intelligence on employment in intellectual professions and the evaluation of the effectiveness of various formats for teaching digital competencies.

KEYWORDS

Digital economy, labor market, digital literacy, digital competencies, human capital, employee competitiveness, digital transformation, professional skills, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, employment, regional inequality, platform employment

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Komarova O. A., Refenius S. I. Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization // . 2026. pp. 207-220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220. (Date of access 20.08.2026).

MLA

Ol'ga Komarova, Refenius S. I.. "Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization." (2026): 207-220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220.

APA

Komarova O. A., Refenius S. I. (2026). Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization. , 207-220. https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220

Chicago

Ol'ga Komarova, Refenius S. I.. "Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization." , no. (2026): 207-220. https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220.

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{{cite journal | author = Komarova O. A., Refenius S. I. | title = Transformation of the Labor Market in the Context of Economic Digitalization | journal = | year = 2026 | pages = 207-220 | doi = 10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-207-220 }}

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