AUTOMATION AND THE EMPLOYMENT PARADOX: OECD EXPERIENCE

This article explores the paradox of automation in OECD countries: while technological transformation significantly enhances productivity, its employment effects remain uncertain and uneven. Automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics create efficiency gains and new opportunities in digital sectors but simultaneously displace routine and middle-skill jobs. This duality reflects the “employment paradox,” where economic growth does not necessarily translate into inclusive job creation. Drawing on recent OECD reports and international studies, the article analyzes how automation drives productivity, alters labor demand, and reshapes employment structures. The findings emphasize the importance of digital skills, lifelong learning, and institutional adaptability to ensure that automation contributes not only to efficiency but also to inclusive labor market development.