Does the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Unemployment Among People With Disabilities Differ by Educational Level? A Dynamic Panel Threshold Approach

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can significantly influence the employment and career development of people with disabilities, presenting both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, AI can enhance accessibility, create new job opportunities, and assist in skill development. On the other hand, it can lead to potential job displacement and exacerbate barriers if not implemented inclusively. The objective of this research is to explore the implications of different artificial intelligence measures (artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, big data) and unemployment among disabled people with different educational levels (primary, secondary, tertiary). The first difference generalized method of moments with threshold model confirms the nonlinear linkages between AI and unemployment. More specifically, AI reduces the unemployment rate among people with disability only in the upper regime, particularly for those with secondary and tertiary educational levels. For unemployed disabled people with primary education, there is little evidence of the role of AI in lowering unemployment in both regimes. The findings of the present empirical study are important for designing suitable policies and strategies for reducing the unemployment rates and achieving a sustainable future for people with disability.