The Transformation of the Labor Market in the Era of the Feeling Economy: Skill Demands, Contradictions, and Policy Pathways

Abstract

Driven by the breakthrough development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the global economic landscape is undergoing a profound restructuring. The traditional “Thinking Economy” paradigm, which centers on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) skills as core competitiveness, is gradually shifting toward the “Feeling Economy” paradigm, where emotional labor serves as a key advantage. Based on the theory of labor market supply and demand, this paper systematically analyzes the restructuring characteristics of labor market skill demands in the context of the Feeling Economy, explores in depth the four major supply - demand contradictions in the market, namely spatial mismatch, temporal mismatch, price distortion, and institutional absence. It also puts forward targeted policy recommendations from three dimensions: educational reform, market regulation, and public services, while providing guidance for individual career planning. The aim is to offer theoretical references and practical pathways for building a new humanistic economic pattern of human - machine collaboration.