Pathways to Career Adaptability in the Manufacturing Industry: Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence, Technical Anxiety and Job Crafting

In the context of rapid technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the manufacturing sector by redefining job requirements, restructuring resource utilization, and influencing how employees adjust to evolving career trajectories. This study investigates how individuals’ perceptions of artificial intelligence (PAI) influence career adaptability (CA), with technological anxiety (TA) and job crafting (JC) serving as key mediating mechanisms in this relationship. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study investigates how employees’ perceptions of artificial intelligence generate job demands that may lead to anxiety, while simultaneously offering opportunities for proactive engagement through job crafting. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 397 employees working in the manufacturing sector. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the hypothesized relationships. The results suggest that individuals’ perceptions of AI exert a significant and positive influence on technological anxiety and job crafting. Moreover, job crafting has a significant and positive impact on career adaptability. In addition, job crafting positively mediates the relationship between perceptions of AI and career adaptability. This study contributes to the JD-R framework and offers practical insights for managing workforce transitions in environments where AI is integrated.