Psychological Contract Breach and Turnover Intention Under AI Algorithmic Management: An Analysis Based on Graduates’ Motivations for Engaging in Flexible Employment

<jats:p>College graduates serve as a crucial pillar for implementing the employment-first strategy and play an indispensable role in advancing flexible employment and emerging employment forms. This study examines the motivations of 215 college graduates who have engaged in flexible employment. Through the methods of situational experiments and questionnaire surveys, we collected the first-hand data on the AI algorithmic trust, turnover intention, and psychological contract breach of the respondents. The findings reveal that Psychological Contract Breach positively influences Turnover Intention, and AI Algorithmic Trust mediates the relationship between Psychological Contract Breach and Turnover Intention. At the same time, the mediating effect of Institutional Trust in platformization is not significant. Based on these findings, this study proposes corresponding policy recommendations for regulatory authorities to standardize flexible employment and support the healthy development of new employment forms. Improving the provision of systems and enhancing the transparency of the platform operation systems can help reducing the probability of psychological contract breach among college graduates and curbing their tendency to quit.</jats:p>