Abstract
This study examines whether national AI vibrancy affects employment structures and unemployment, utilising panel data for 36 countries (2017-2023) from the Stanford AI Vibrancy Index and World Bank indicators. Fixed-and random-effects models, along with Hausman tests and clustered standard errors, were applied. Results reveal no significant short-term effect of AI vibrancy on industrial or service employment, nor on unemployment. GDP per capita showed a modest positive effect on industry (beta = 0.046, p < 0.10) and, in some models, on services (beta = 0.045, p approximate to 0.06). Labour force participation correlated positively with service employment (beta= 0.322, p < 0.10) and negatively with unemployment (beta = -0.006, p < 0.01). Strong time effects reflect pandemic-related labour shifts: industrial jobs declined, service employment grew, and unemployment spiked temporarily. Overall, labour dynamics appear driven more by global shocks and demographics than by AI vibrancy.