Intelligent Manufacturing, Labor Relations and Workers' Coping Strategies: Evidence from Guangdong Employer-Employee Matched Survey Data

The widespread application of artificial intelligence technology in production processes has intensified workers' fears of job displacement. Drawing upon the 2023 Guangdong Enterprise-Employee Matching Survey data, this paper examines the mechanisms through which intelligent manufacturing influences workers' sense of displacement crisis and individual coping strategies, while analyzing how labor relation stability moderates these adaptive responses. The findings reveal that higher levels of enterprise intelligence significantly amplify workers' perceived displacement risks, consequently motivating proactive adaptation strategies. Concurrently, harmonious and stable labor relations facilitate more active worker engagement with technological transformations. Notably, labor relation stability demonstrates particular efficacy in alleviating displacement anxiety among employees in non-state-owned enterprises and labor-intensive industries, while simultaneously enhancing proactive adaptation to intelligent development. The study concludes with policy recommendations advocating the establishment of harmonious labor relations, enhanced dissemination of AI technologies, and comprehensive skill development programs to mitigate occupational anxiety and facilitate workforce adaptation to technological revolution.