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  • Majority favour hybrid working and believe COVID-19 has accelerated the use of technologies such as AI in the workplace
  • Manufacturing, HR/ Recruitment rated as the areas most likely to be affected by AI and Automation

We have announced the results of our Future Tech Economy Survey, carried out at a recent webinar with nearly 200 attendees from industries such as Technology, Financial Services, Energy and Pharmaceuticals. The survey looks at how the pandemic has changed the workplace and accelerated the use of technologies such as AI and machine learning. In the survey, the lasting impact of COVID-19 on the labour market is clear with 78% expressing a preference to work a hybrid model in the future, dividing their working week between the home and the centralised office. 14% of those surveyed would prefer to work full time from home, and only 8% would prefer to work full-time from the centralised office.

“Businesses are now recognising how the pandemic has reshaped the world of work, as well as how technology has accelerated these changes”, commented Brian McElligott, Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran LLP. “Many employers are now planning for a hybrid model of working, giving employees more flexibility but still using the centralised office as a place for collaboration, innovation and training. When we drill down into the survey data, we can see that of those who would like a hybrid model, 87% are confident that their employer will accommodate their request. Of those who would like to work full-time from home, the majority (58%) don’t believe their employer will accommodate their preference. This perhaps demonstrates a realisation amongst workers that the office still has a part to play in our working life, providing a connection to fellow employees and to the organisation as a whole.”

Technology has been a key enabler of remote working during the pandemic, and the vast majority of those surveyed (91%) believe that COVID-19 has accelerated the use of technology such as AI and automation in the workplace. According to the survey, the areas most likely to be affected by AI and automation are Manufacturing (23%), HR/ Recruitment (21%) and Healthcare (18%).

“With the increased adoption of technologies, also comes increased automation”, continued Mr McElligott. “In the past, there was a fear of automation in the job market, but this may be an over-simplified view which ignores the opportunities that AI and automation can bring. In the Future of Jobs Report 2020 from the World Economic Forum, it’s predicted that while jobs may be displaced by technology, there will also be net job creation and those whose jobs may be at risk will need support from businesses and governments.”

For more on the “Future Tech Economy” webinar, please click here.



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