Digital transformation and employment: A bibliometric analysis of the literature between 2000 and 2024

Year 2025, Issue: 71, 213 - 221, 30.08.2025

Cansel Oskay , Hatice Sapmaz

https://doi.org/10.18070/erciyesiibd.1697925

Abstract

This study aims to explore how the relationship between digitalization and employment has been addressed in the academic literature by conducting a bibliometric analysis of studies published between 2000 and 2024. The rapid spread of digital technologies has led to profound transformations in employment patterns, skill requirements, and the structure of labor markets. This transformation process is examined through concepts such as the platform economy, remote work, automation, and artificial intelligence. A total of 487 academic articles identified using the keywords “digitalization” and “employment” in the Web of Science database were analyzed, and VOSviewer software was employed to visualize the core focus areas and conceptual networks within the literature. The findings reveal that research on this topic has expanded significantly, especially after 2020. Countries such as Germany, China, and Italy have become prominent in academic output and international collaboration, while Turkey’s contribution remains limited. Moreover, the digitalization-employment literature is found to be highly interdisciplinary, closely linked to themes such as sustainable development, workforce transformation, digital inequalities, and education policies. This study aims to map the current trends in the field and provide guidance for future research directions and policy recommendations.

Keywords

Digitalization , Employment , Labor market , Bibliometric analysis , VOSviewer , Web of Science

Project Number

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Dijital dönüşüm ve istihdam: 2000-2024 arası literatürün bibliyometrik analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, dijitalleşme ve istihdam arasındaki ilişkinin akademik literatürde nasıl ele alındığını, 2000-2024 yılları arasında yayımlanan çalışmaları bibliyometrik analiz yöntemiyle inceleyerek ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Dijital teknolojilerin hızla yayılması; istihdam biçimlerinde, beceri gereksinimlerinde ve iş gücü piyasalarının yapısında köklü dönüşümlere yol açmıştır. Bu dönüşüm süreci; platform ekonomisi, uzaktan çalışma, otomasyon ve yapay zekâ gibi kavramlarla birlikte değerlendirilmektedir. Web of Science veri tabanında “digitalization” ve “employment” anahtar kelimeleri kullanılarak belirlenen 487 makale analiz edilmiş; VOSviewer yazılımıyla literatürdeki temel odak alanları ve kavramsal ağlar görselleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, özellikle 2020 sonrası bu konudaki çalışmaların hızla genişlediğini; Almanya, Çin, İtalya gibi ülkelerin akademik üretimde ve uluslararası iş birliklerinde öne çıktığını; Türkiye’nin katkısının ise sınırlı kaldığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, dijital-istihdam literatürünün disiplinler arası bir yapıya sahip olduğu ve sürdürülebilir kalkınma, iş gücünün dönüşümü, dijital eşitsizlik ve eğitim politikalarıyla yakından ilişkili olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma, alandaki mevcut eğilimleri haritalandırarak, gelecekteki araştırmalar ve politika önerileri için yol gösterici bilgiler sunmayı hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

Dijitalleşme , İstihdam , İşgücü piyasası , Bibliyometrik analiz , VOSviewer , Web of Science

Ethical Statement

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Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Thanks

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