As Canada starts to become more digitized, it’s important that we keep up. And if you’re looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve, you need to be aware of five trends shaping the way Canadians live and work.
1. The rise of e-commerce
Online shopping has grown into a $150 billion industry in Canada in recent years. This trend is expected to continue as consumers grow accustomed to buying goods and services from their computers or mobile devices. In fact, according to Statista, nearly half of all Canadian internet users have made purchases on websites such as Amazon and eBay.
2. More robots than people
In 2015, about 1.5 million industrial robots were operating worldwide, which was an increase of 20 percent over 2014. While this may seem like good news for employment, it also means that many jobs will likely disappear. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), there are now more robots than humans working in manufacturing. That being said, experts predict that by 2025, there could be as many as 3.3 million robots working across the globe.
3. Smart cities
Smart cities use technology to improve efficiency and productivity within urban areas. They can help monitor traffic patterns, manage energy usage, reduce crime rates and provide better public transportation options. However, not every city wants to embrace smart technologies. For instance, some believe they make citizens complacent because they feel monitored and controlled. Others fear that hackers might get access to sensitive information. Either way, these fears demonstrate how smart cities require careful consideration and implementation.
4. Digital privacy
People today want to share more personal information about themselves – through social media accounts and search engines – but often do so with little confidence in who can see the data. Companies, governments, and other organizations use advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to collect and analyze vast amounts of data from multiple sources, including smartphones, tablets, wearable tech, cars, and fitness trackers. These new types of surveillance give us greater insight while raising ethical questions about where and how that data is stored.
5. Remote work
There has been a huge shift towards telecommuting in recent years. As of 2020, over 44% of Canadians will be engaged in remote work. Although it seems like this would be great for the environment, businesses and workers alike still aren’t 100% comfortable with it just yet. But there is a silver lining: even though the workforce is changing, jobs remain plentiful. It’s estimated that nearly 800,000 new positions will open by 2022, making the next few years an exciting time for job seekers! If you’ve landed your first gig with a remote company, don’t worry; you’ll find plenty of opportunities for advancement down the road too!
Dil Bole Oberoi
