Adaptation or Protest: Evaluation of the Employees Sentiments Under Labour Market Transformation

The possible behaviour patterns of employees in various professional spheres in the situation of proposed changes in labour relations connected with robotics and the digital economy are analyzed in the issue. Employee behaviour is considered as the determining factor in the performance of the “lagged effect” due to which a reduction in labour demand does not automatically lead to a reduction in employment. Authors’ conclusions are based on the results of a sociological poll of 3000 respondents from various sectors of employment in the industrial region of Russia—the Sverdlovsk Region.The results of the research show that uncertainty and protest sentiments prevail among the community of professionals; paternalistic sentiments are strong enough; adaptation strategies—readiness for retraining and re-skilling—are among the outsiders. The sentiments of uncertainty are mostly represented among employees in the industry, social sector and government. Protest sentiments are mostly expressed among the business community. Students—potential participants of the labour market—feel more prepared for adaptation and retraining. The adaptational potential manifested itself slightly higher among the employed population—employees of medium and large business structures and authorities. Migration sentiments are poorly expressed, except for students and private entrepreneurs. The results show a weak level of awareness among the community of professionals about upcoming changes in the content of the digital employee labour. The authors emphasize the need to popularize the adaptation strategy in society as the adequate response of employees to the upcoming transformation of the labour market.