Navigating the Digital Storm: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Technology-Induced Job Insecurity, Its Outcomes and Moderators

As automated technology advances rapidly, human employees’ fear of being replaced (i.e., technology-induced job insecurity) has become a widespread stress in today’s workplace. It is crucial for organizations to recognize this new technological challenge and address its impact appropriately. Therefore, to systematically understand its impacts and explore potential buffering factors, the present research conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis of 96 studies (N = 43,104 individuals). Drawing on the tripartite response model, we classify their outcome variables into three broad categories encompassing nine subgroups. Furthermore, integrating stress appraisal theory and threat-rigidity theory, we examine two critical moderators reflecting specific coping capability against technological threats. Our findings indicate that technology-induced job insecurity is systematically associated with employees’ cognition, affection, and behavior. Notably, the moderation analysis highlights distinct boundary conditions under which these associations vary across different outcomes, emphasizing the complexity of these effects. Specifically, low threat proximity—providing a crucial time buffer before the actual threat happens—is associated with weaker negative attitudes toward the organization, and lower withdrawal and resistance behaviors. Individuals’ high learning ability—reflecting strong adaptive flexibility—is associated with weaker negative appraisals of the job itself and more sustained proactive behaviors. In summary, the present research contributes to a systematic understanding of how technology-induced job insecurity is related to human psychology and behaviors at work, thereby offering valuable insights to inspire future research and management practice.