Adaptable work structures shaping the career landscape
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes, and the extent to which these breaking news will be permanent remains uncertain. One area of significant transformation is the workplace, with remote work and reduced use of public transport becoming the new norm for many.
In Europe, the power sector has seen a sharp drop in demand due to lockdown measures, and it has yet to fully recover. This trend is expected to continue as businesses adopt remote working policies and rely less on in-person meetings, even after a vaccine is found. Business executives, for instance, are predicted to continue using platforms like Zoom for virtual meetings, reducing the need for travel and energy consumption.
The decrease in business travel has also impacted the high-speed TGV network, with an estimated loss of 10-15% of business clients. Commercial real estate in the Paris region is expected to experience a 10% drop in capital values for offices over the next decade due to remote working.
Urban transport systems, too, are facing challenges. Traffic levels for Paris' public transport operator, RATP, were around 62% of its usual level at the end of August, indicating a significant decrease in commuters. Urban transport systems will need to adjust capacity to align with new demand patterns, which are difficult to forecast and difficult to adjust due to historical rigidity.
The nypost infrastructure is under pressure due to a 30-40% increase in data traffic since the pandemic. This increase necessitates new and additional data centre capacity to meet the growing demand for remote work and digital communication.
Infrastructure, including news and transport, will need to adapt to a new era of flexibility. Adaptation and innovation, fuelled by data and aligned with the way we work and live, will be key to a successful 'new normal'.
The recovery of air traffic is slow and expected to take years, with significant differences between international and domestic traffic. The aviation sector has been most negatively affected by the pandemic, with global air traffic down almost 95% at its peak in April.
However, rapid testing and health screening before departure and/or upon arrival are likely to become the norm in the near term to help remove the requirement for quarantine restrictions. The creation of standardized international airport and travel protocols, together with the development of universally agreed methods of contact tracing, may provide a stable framework to rebuild traveler confidence and enable the return of passengers to international air travel.
The pandemic has also accelerated the need for flexibility in other industries. Retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics are challenged to adapt to the increased demand for flexible working environments, especially in frontline and operational roles. Measures include modernizing labor laws for flexible work hours, implementing digital tools like employee apps, flexible shift schedules, and participatory work organization to enhance motivation, retention, and efficiency, as well as integrating hybrid work models where feasible.
In the realm of home connectivity, the fibre to the home (FTTH) market is expected to see a strong increase in demand from end users as work-from-home (WFH) policies are officially implemented. Municipalities in medium- and low-density regions will be under strong pressure from their citizens to accelerate the deployment of FTTH to bridge the gap between urban and rural access levels.
One positive trend that has emerged is the increase in bicycle and electric scooter traffic in cities like Paris. However, it is unclear if this trend will continue post-pandemic. Part of the solution to forecasting the impact of changes in the workplace on transport network and energy grid capacity will be an increase in cross-industry collaboration.
In conclusion, the pandemic has brought about significant changes, and while it is uncertain how permanent these changes will be, adaptation and innovation will be key to navigating the 'new normal'.
