Citation :

Azatullah Zaheer, Rafiullah Noori, Khalid Shakir, 2026. "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment Structure in South Asian Economies: A Theory-Driven Review and Secondary Evidence" International Journal of Community Empowerment & Society Administration [IJCESA]  Volume 3, Issue 3: 01-06.

Abstract :

Artificial intelligence is increasingly changing the way work is done, including organization, allocation, and the importance of skills. However, while there is substantial research on the effects of AI on work in developed economies, the same is not true for South Asian countries, where there is a lack of theory and research. This paper attempts to bridge this gap through a theory-informed analysis of the effects of AI on employment structures in South Asian economies, supported through a systematic review of secondary literature. Through task-based theories, skill-based biased technological change, and various socio-institutional perspectives, this paper views AI as a structural driver of employment change, where AI influences employment structures through task re-allocation, skill change, and institutional mediation. Based on the review of secondary literature, the findings suggest that AI adoption in South Asian economies leads to reduced employment prospects in routine, clerical, and similar types of work, while at the same time creating new prospects in digital and service-based occupations. However, these processes are moderated through high rates of labor informality, limited education capacity, and institutional readiness. The research suggests an integrated approach for how AI affects job structures in order to capture these nuances. It offers a comprehensive paradigm for how AI affects job hierarchies. Based on theory and South Asian realities, it provides an insight of how AI affects job structures. It adds to the general discussion about job arrangements in developing nations.

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Keywords :

South Asian Economies, Artificial Intelligence, Job Structure, Work Reallocation, Skill-Biased Technology Change, Institutional Capability