How COVID and AI are changing the face of future work

When the Coronavirus first spread in late 2019, it changed all aspects of society through enforced lockdowns and isolation measures. However, while the medical aspects of the virus were undoubtedly challenging, many industry experts suggest we’re merely at the tip of the iceberg in terms of the economic implications of COVID.

A perfect storm brewing

Mass redundancies have been one of the many unfortunate byproducts of Coronavirus as businesses tried to stay operational and sought to cut overheads wherever possible. Moreover, as the world slowly emerges from the worst ravages of the virus, many firms are struggling to adapt to the changing socio-economic conditions of life in a post-pandemic world.

For example, through COVID’s isolation measures, the reliance on tech by consumers and businesses has increased exponentially – in particular with the massive growth in online shopping and remote working. Almost without exception, those firms that fared best through COVID were those that had already invested in online tech.

The impact of automation and the digitization of business

As well as the economic impacts of the virus, the ongoing digitization of business and increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the workplace is also leading business owners to move to automation – again putting a squeeze on employment opportunities. These two factors combined are adding yet more pressure to job seekers.

Roles to consider if you feel your job could be in danger

There’s little doubt the employment landscape is changing rapidly, and many previously secure jobs could soon be under threat – particularly through automation. However, if you suspect your job security might not be quite what it was – or you’ve already suffered redundancy – below are some jobs that are predicted to offer longer-lasting career prospects into the future.

Delivery driver and order fulfillment roles: Courier jobs are expected to remain in demand as populations worldwide shift towards online shopping. Working as a delivery driver also offers the chance to set up a business yourself with a huge range of sites detailing jobs for couriers posted by clients. Another area linked to product delivery is in order fulfillment, using specialist firms to look after every aspect of getting goods to customers.

Jobs in IT: Computers, the internet, and technology are already an integral part of all aspects of society and work – and that’s not going to change anytime soon. So, training for work in IT-related roles will assure good job prospects now and far into the future.

Facilitating remote work: Pre-pandemic, the concept of remote working was relatively rare but has since become an accepted norm. With so many employees now working from home (or part-time at home and part-time in offices), companies need to find ways to ensure a two-tier class system doesn’t develop between workers. As a result, positions such as remote work director are now becoming more common – particularly in larger companies.

Work in the care sector: While computers and AI perform repetitive tasks, they lack the empathy, human touch, and understanding required to work in the care sector. Moreover, tech isn’t at the level that people would trust a robot doctor to diagnose or treat problems, making jobs in the care sector a safe bet for career stability.