Effects of digitalization of production processes on the transformation of the labour force structure and economic efficiency in the coal industry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-5-137-145

Читать на русскоя языкеL.M. Fomicheva, O.N. Pronskaya, I.V. Belyanina, A.I. Arkhangelskiy, E.L. Arzamasova
Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №5 / 2025 p. 137-145

Abstract: Rapid development of digital technologies in the mining industry is causing fundamental changes in the structure and quality characteristics of the labour force, forming new models of production processes and personnel management systems. Modern trends in automation and robotization of mining operations, introduction of artificial intelligence and big data systems in production management are creating fundamentally new requirements for employee competencies and changing the traditional approaches to assessing the economic efficiency of labour resources. The objective of the study is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the effects of digitalization of the production processes on the transformation of the labour force structure and to determine the economic effects of introducing digital technologies in the coal industry. The main tasks are to analyze the dynamics of changes in the job and qualification structure of personnel under the impact of digital technologies; to assess the economic efficiency of investments in digitalization with account of the transformation in the labour processes; to develop methodological approaches to optimizing the structure of labour resources in conditions of digital transformation. The methodological framework is based on the methods of economic and statistical analysis, correlation and regression modelling, expert assessment and comparative analysis. The empirical base includes data on 48 coal mining companies in Russia for the period of 2019-2024, the results of interviews with 1,340 industry experts, and statistical information on the implementation of digital technologies. The results of the study show that digitalization leads to a 21.4% reduction in the share of workers in traditional jobs, while the demand for IT specialists grows by 285% and that for operators of robotic systems by 156%. The economic efficiency ratio of digitalization is 2.12, and the return on investment period is reduced from 7.8 to 4.2 years. A positive correlation has been established between the level of digitalization and the labour productivity (r = 0.821). The theoretical significance of the work lies in developing conceptual ideas on transformation of labour relations in the digital economy in specific conditions of the mining industry. The practical value is defined by the possibility of using the obtained results for strategic planning of the human resources development and optimization of the investment decisions in the field of digitalization of coal companies.

Keywords: digitalization, labour resources, coal industry, job structure of personnel, labour productivity

For citation: Fomicheva L.M., Pronskaya O.N., Belyanina I.V., Arkhangelskiy A.I., Arzamasova E.L. Effects of digitalization of production processes on the transformation of the labour force structure and economic efficiency in the coal industry. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(5):137–145. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-5-137-145

Article info

Received: 03.06.2025

Revised: 10.07.2025

Accepted: 23.07.2025

Information about the authors

Liliya M. Fomicheva – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Olga N. Pronskaya – Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Irina V. Belyanina – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Andrey I. Arkhangelskiy – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ekaterina L. Arzamasova – Senior Lecturer, Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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