Future pandemics: workers might be immune

Future pandemics: workers might be immune

But at what cost?

Future pandemics: workers might be immune

During the various lockdowns, social contacts and supply chains were ‘blocked’. There is a solution that could solve the problem, should it occur again in the future: new colleagues who are immune to pandemics and are ready to replace workers. In other words: robots.

An increase in automation could help immunise the economy from future pandemics.

The study

A study conducted by the University of Oxford in 2017 provides the data needed to calculate the jobs that can be automated in the next 15 years.

According to the study about 54% of all jobs in the US are in industries classified as essential. 68% of these jobs, corresponding to 52% of wages, are automation-sensitive. High-touch industries account for 46% of jobs (with some overlap with essential sectors) and 57% of these jobs are vulnerable.

According to the study, by 2035 we should have the technology to automate 86% of restaurant jobs, 76% of retail jobs and 59% of leisure jobs.

Remote work

The recent Coronavirus outbreak has also seen the emergence of a new phenomenon, which is likely to give rise to new ways of working. What is it? Remote working. Many companies have decided to continue to work remotely even after the lockdown is over. In particular, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims that within the next five to ten years, around 50% of his employees will work remotely.

The CEO also seems convinced that working remotely should accelerate production and innovation in some of the technologies they are already designing and revolutionising. In particular, the CEO was referring to private messaging apps, video chat, Workplace, Portal and possibly even virtual and augmented reality.

These factors might be encompassed under the umbrella of a much bigger thematic change occurring in the world. We are referring to trends in demographic and social changes, also known as representative of one of the main Mega Trends in investing. To know more about how to optimize your investments by following these trends, visit www.onemillionformydaughter.com