Transformation of Employment Regulation Institutions in the Digital Economy: Current State and Expectations of Young Professionals

The subject of the research is the transformation of institutional mechanisms for employment regulation: the state, trade unions, employer associations, and informal norms in the context of the digitalization of the economy. The object of the research is the social and labor relations emerging in the field of new forms of employment (platform work, remote work, freelancing, self-employment). The authors thoroughly explored topics such as the precarization of labor, the emergence of the digital precariat, legal uncertainty regarding the status of platform workers, as well as the role of algorithmic control and the power imbalance in favor of digital platforms. Special attention is given to the results of a pilot online survey of young professionals, which revealed their perception of the significance of regulators such as digital platforms, the government, professional communities, reputational mechanisms, and the demand for a "service state" that ensures basic social guarantees, simplifies tax reporting, and arbitrates labor disputes. A range of general theoretical methods was used (analysis, synthesis, systemic and structural-functional approaches), secondary analysis of statistical data and results of previously conducted studies, as well as a quantitative study – an online survey of young professionals and students. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive analysis of the institutional dynamics of employment regulation under the influence of digital transformation, supplemented by empirical data obtained from a pilot study on young professionals' perceptions of the role of the state and digital platforms. The authors note that young professionals do not oppose traditional and new regulators but see the necessity for their hybridization: platforms are responsible for operational efficiency, while the state is responsible for fundamental rights and social protection. The authors conclude that existing measures are reactive, while proactive adaptation of the legal framework, formalization of the status of platform workers, establishment of state arbitration, and mechanisms for minimum guaranteed income are required. Successful transformation of institutions is only possible through dialogue among the state, businesses, and workers.