Digital transformation represents a paradigm shift that covers every facet of corporate management, including production, development, ordering, customer management, and business strategy. Rooted in digital technology, this transformative shift has become essential for corporate survival, fostering industrial competitiveness, elevating the quality of life, and contributing to national development. While the attention on digital transformation has escalated recently with the rapid integration of fourth industrial technologies such as the Internet of Things, 3D printing, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, its essence is deeply related to long-term processes like process automation and the evolution of information and communication technologies (ICT). This study investigates global and industry-specific trends in digital transformation, examining its correlation with the labor market in the United States, Germany, and Korea, and analyzing pertinent labor market policies.

In Chapter 2, the study examines various definitions of digital transformation from previous research and measures and compares the digital transformation of industries in major countries using indicators such as ICT capital stock, ICT intermediate input, and robot capital stock. The analysis of data from 2000 to 2017 indicates a significant increase in digital transformation in most of the 16 countries studied. While Korea maintained a top position in ICT equipment capital stock and intermediate spending from 2000 to 2017, software concentration and intermediate spending remained in the mid-range. Particularly, Korea’s robot concentration in manufacturing increased significantly, making it the country with the highest robot concentration among the 16 nations.

Despite Korea’s prowess in traditional digital transformation, its adoption of digital technologies (Internet of Things, 3D printing, cloud computing, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence) between 2018 and 2021 lags behind the OECD average, particularly in artificial intelligence. This analysis underscores Korea’s dominance in conventional digital transformation but reveals a deficit in adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

Chapter 3 delves into the intricate relationship between industryspecific digital transformation and employment dynamics in the U.S., Germany, and Korea. The analysis unveils diverse correlations between digital transformation variables and employment across countries. Notably, South Korea experiences a unique scenario where the positive and negative effects of digital transformation are concentrated among high-skilled workers, distinguishing it from the polarization observed in the U.S. and Germany.

Chapter 4 examines global policy responses to the transformative impact of digital transformation on the labor market. Categorizing policies into employment, education, and social security domains, the study emphasizes the need for adaptive measures to address the evolving employment landscape. Noteworthy examples include the introduction of minimum wage systems and collective bargaining rights for platform workers in response to the changing nature of employment.

Drawing upon the cumulative insights from Chapters 2 through 4, Chapter 5 provides key implications of this study. It supports for a shift in Korea’s digital transformation focus towards the service industry and underscores the importance of tailored policies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to bridge the technology adoption gap. The analysis of the labor market highlights the imperative of upskilling and reskilling programs to mitigate the impact on low- and medium-skilled workers.

In conclusion, the study underscores the multidimensional nature of digital transformation, ranging from its historical trends to its intricate relationship with the labor market and the evolving policy landscape. As countries navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by digital transformation, adaptive policies and a holistic approach are essential to ensure a balanced and inclusive transition in the workforce. 

국문요약

제1장 서론

1. 연구의 배경 및 목적

2. 선행연구와의 차별성

3. 연구의 내용과 구성

제2장 주요국의 산업별 디지털 전환 추세

1. 산업 수준 연구의 필요성

2. 디지털 전환 정의

3. 데이터

4. 국가별 디지털 전환 현황

5. 산업별 디지털 전환 특성

6. 디지털 전환 지수(Digitalization Index)

7. 소결 및 시사점

제3장 디지털 전환과 고용 간의 관계

1. 서론

2. 디지털 전환과 산업별 고용 간의 관계

3. 디지털 전환과 직업별 고용 간의 관계

4. 직업 숙련도별 고용 변화

5. 소결

제4장 주요국의 디지털 전환 관련 노동정책

1. 고용노동정책

2. 교육ㆍ훈련 정책

3. 사회보장정책

4. 소결

제5장 결론

1. 연구 결과 요약

2. 시사점

참고문헌

부록

Executive Summary