From Competition to Coexistence: The Evolution of the Labour Market for College Graduates in the Age of Automation

Grounded in “The Race Between Education and Technology,” this book uses multisource data to analyse the evolving labour market for college graduates, interpreting how the relationship between humans and automation shifts from competition to coexistence, which is reshaping skill demand, education policy, and labour market in China and abroad. In examining the competition between humans and automation, the authors analyse how automation is pushing graduates out of informal employment, reshaping their career paths, and changing labour market structures. They also explore the impact of automation on skill demand, distinguishing between general and specific skills and highlighting how technological advancements are driving the evolving requirements of the labour market. The discussion then moves from competition to coexistence between humans and automation, highlighting the crucial role of education policy in managing human-automation substitution. The authors contend that rather than simply displacing human workers, automation can be integrated into the workforce in a way that promotes coexistence and even synergy between human skills and technological innovation. This book advances the traditional understanding of the relationship between technology, labour market, and education. It will appeal to scholars and students who are interested in the economics of education and labour economics.