기술변화가 고용구조에 미치는 영향: 제조업을 중심으로

This study analyzes data from the 8th and 9th waves of the Korea Workplace Panel Survey to examine the impact of technological change on the employment structure of the manufacturing industry. Recent technological transformations have been characterized by originality and convergence, with intensive development across diverse fields. Understanding the effects of such changes on employment requires a micro-level approach that reflects industry-specific characteristics. Accordingly, this study classifies technological change into two dimensions—automation and the advancement of information and communication technology (ICT)—and investigates how each affects the employment structure. Focusing on the Korean manufacturing sector, the study explores qualitative shifts in employment composition, distinguishing between regular and non-regular workers rather than merely assessing quantitative employment changes. The empirical results indicate that as ICT advancement increases, the proportion of regular workers rises while that of non-regular workers decreases, signifying a structural shift toward more stable employment. In contrast, the level of automation does not exhibit a statistically significant effect on either employment type. These findings suggest that with greater ICT advancement, firms tend to retain core employees as regular workers, whereas employment flexibility through non-regular positions may increasingly be substituted by technological flexibility. The study concludes by discussing theoretical and practical implications for employment management in technologically evolving industries.