The Structural Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Market: An Integrated Analysis Based on Dual Effects and Paradigm Shift

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI), as a general-purpose technology, is profoundly reshaping the internal structure and operational logic of the labor market. This paper constructs an integrated analytical framework to systematically analyze its structural impacts, which includes two core dimensions: market effects and paradigm effects. Market effects are mainly reflected in AI’s direct impacts on employment volume, skill demand and income distribution through substitution and creation mechanisms, and are particularly manifested in employment polarization and shifts in skill preferences. Paradigm effects are more fundamental, referring to the AI-driven transformation of the labor market from a "job market" centered on fixed positions to a "task market" based on granular tasks, which in turn triggers profound changes in work organization, labor relations and market forms. The research shows that addressing such structural changes requires a shift in policy thinking from the "patchwork governance" of partial adjustments to forward-looking "developmental governance". It is essential to build adaptive skills training systems, social security systems and income distribution mechanisms to mitigate the risks of technological change and promote inclusive development.