Interplay Between Digital Economy, Industrial Restructuring, and Employment Dynamics—An Empirical Inquiry Using Pearl River Delta Panel Data

The digital economy drives industrial transformation via dual pathways—industry digitization and digital industrialization—thereby influencing employment structure refinement. This study employs panel data from nine Pearl River Delta cities (2012–2021) to empirically examine the digital economy's impact on employment structure through benchmark regression and mediation effect models. Results indicate that digital economy advancement correlates with reduced employment in primary and secondary industries, alongside increased tertiary industry employment. Mediation effect analysis reveals that industrial restructuring partially mediates this relationship, specifically reducing primary industry labor demand and boosting tertiary industry employment. The study concludes with policy proposals to foster digital-real economy integration, enhance digital talent cultivation, and expand employment avenues, offering insights for regional digital economy development and employment structure optimization.