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How do Workers Adjust to Robots? Evidence from China

Author

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  • Osea Giuntella
  • Yi Lu
  • Tianyi Wang

Abstract

We analyse the effects of exposure to industrial robots on labour market adjustments, exploring longitudinal household data from China. We find that a one-standard-deviation increase in robot exposure led to a decline in labour force participation (−1%), employment (−7%) and hourly earnings (−8%) of Chinese workers. At the same time, among those who kept working, robot exposure increased the number of hours worked by 8%. These effects were concentrated among the less educated and larger among male, prime-age and older workers. We also find that more exposed workers increased their participation in technical training and were significantly more likely to retire earlier.

Suggested Citation

  • Osea Giuntella & Yi Lu & Tianyi Wang, 2025. "How do Workers Adjust to Robots? Evidence from China," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(666), pages 637-652.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:135:y:2025:i:666:p:637-652.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueae086
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    Cited by:

    1. Meng, Weilu & Lu, Weijie & Yuan, Gecheng & Zhou, Li, 2025. "Automation and stock market participation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Marco De Simone & Dario Guarascio & Jelena Reljic, 2025. "The impact of robots on workplace injuries and deaths:Empirical evidence from Europe," Working Papers in Public Economics 255, Department of Economics and Law, Sapienza University of Rome.
    3. Qiao, Gang & Kong, Dongmin & Liu, Lihua, 2025. "Higher education expansion and the adoption of robots in China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    4. Wang, Linlin & Liu, Chun & Liu, Ding & Zhang, Yi, 2025. "Beyond jobs and wages: The hidden cost of automation on corporate social security contributions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    5. Li, Weibing & Li, Mingyang & Chen, Siyuan, 2025. "Automation and household conflict: How industrial robots reduce domestic violence risk," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(PB).
    6. Qingen Gai & Shiqi Guo & Lianyi Hu & Xi Zhu, 2025. "Robots, routine jobs, and rural migrant workers: evidence from China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(4), pages 1-30, December.

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