Socio-psychological mechanisms for the formation of professional identity of young people in the context of digitalization of labor

Context and relevance. The digitalization of labor is changing not only forms of employment but also the socio-psychological conditions of young people's professional development, increasing uncertainty, a multiplicity of career scenarios, and the role of digital recognition. Objective. To analyze the socio-psychological mechanisms of young people's professional identity formation in the context of the digitalization of labor and propose a conceptual model. Hypothesis. The digitalization of labor does not abolish the basic mechanisms of professional identity formation but modifies their modes of action through new modes of inclusion, recognition, and control. Methods and materials. A theoretical analysis of domestic and international studies on professional and social identity, professional self-determination, digital socialization, and the digitalization of labor is used; conceptual, comparative, and synthetic methods are used. Results. The key mechanisms of young people's professional identity formation are identified: identification, internalization of norms, social comparison, digital self-presentation, reflexive construction of the professional self, and adaptation to uncertainty. It is shown that in the digital work environment, these are combined into three circuits: belonging, subjectivity, and the reputational-performative dimension. Conclusions. Young people's professional identity in the context of digitalized work is a dynamic and multicomponent system formed at the intersection of belonging, autonomy, and public reputation.