Future of work

This report investigates the long-term impact of COVID-19 on work, the workforce and the workplace in eight countries with diverse labour markets. Using data from O*Net, the authors quantify five key attributes for more than 800 occupations: 1) closeness to customers or coworkers, 2) frequency of human interactions required, 3) if human interactions are with a small set of the same people or a stream of strangers, 4) whether the work is indoors and 5) whether it requires on-site presence. Across all attributes, the pandemic has accelerated three trends: hybrid remote work, an increase in e-commerce and the growth of the “delivery economy,” and the adoption of automation and artificial intelligence (AI). Youth, women, ethnic minorities and workers without a college degree are likely to be most affected by these workforce transitions. The composition of occupations within the economy is likely to change with little to no growth in low-wage occupations.