17,700 more jobs available in the East Midlands by 2027 due to automation

Urgent action is needed to ensure people have the opportunities they need to retrain and upskill as new research predicts automation will impact thousands of people’s jobs in the East Midlands over the next four years.

Pearson, the leading learning company, has today launched its Skills Map of England, an online tool which forecasts workforce and labour market needs in different parts of the country.

The new research predicts that, despite the impact of automation on the workforce, there will be more jobs available in the East Midlands, and across England, in four years’ time. Overall, there is expected to be 17,700 extra job opportunities in the region by 2027.

The East Midlands could see a net increase of 23,100 employees in the Transportation and Storage sector, with large goods vehicle drivers identified as the fastest-growing transport-related role, with a requirement for 3,100 workers.

Some industries are expected to witness a net decrease in headcount. Wholesale and Retail Trade emerges as the most impacted sector, with a projected net decrease of 15,400 jobs. There is expected to be a decline of 7,200 jobs among sales and retail assistants alone.

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Vocational Qualifications and Training at Pearson, said: “The data we have crunched is not designed to alarm anyone, but rather to alert policymakers, business leaders, job seekers and education professionals to the speed of change which is possible over the coming years.

“Contrary to common fears, automation is not expected to lead to fewer jobs overall in the East Midlands but rather a transformation into different roles. To ensure a smooth transition, it is vital that people have the opportunities they need to reskill and upskill. The labour market in the East Midlands will need to be much more flexible and the workforce more adaptable in the next decade and beyond, and it is important to prepare for these changes now.”