Technological disruption and employment: The influence on job insecurity and turnover intentions: A multi-country study

Experts have predicted that 57% of jobs within the OECD could be replaced by technology, due to advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, etc. Despite this, little is known about how employees view the future of work, and what influence this has on their job behaviors. Using a sample of 1516 employees (from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand) and structural equation modeling, we find that an employee's perceived threat of technological disruption had a significant effect on job insecurity and turnover intentions. Furthermore, we find strong support for a mediation effect from job insecurity. In addition, we included job mobility in our model and argued that those with greater job options might react more purposefully in response to job threats from radical technological changes. Overall, the perceived threat of technological disruption was found to differ across the three countries with Australia and New Zealand having similar modest levels, but with the United States sample reporting significantly higher levels. This paper provides a much-needed insight into how people view technology in relation to their own job security and willingness to stay in their current line of work.