Rise of the robots will see almost 50,000 JOB LOSSES in Coventry, report claims

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Robots are set to see the loss of one in four jobs in Coventry over the next 12 years according to a new report released today.

The report by the Centre for Cities think tank assesses how automation and globalisation will affect jobs in British cities in the coming decades.

The report - Cities Outlook 2018 - estimates around one in four existing jobs in Coventry are likely to be displaced – amounting to 47,000 jobs in total in the city.

The report also issues a rallying call to political and business leaders at both local and national level to take action to help prepare for the impact of automation and globalisation.

Throughout the West Midlands it is estimated as many as 300,000 jobs (23 per cent) could be at risk between now and 2030.

The report also considers how automation and globalisation will boost job creation in some sectors.

However, it says cities like Coventry and many others in the Midlands and the north will be more exposed to job losses than cities in the south.

Also that the impact of automation and globalisation will deepen economic and political divisions across the country.

It calls on the Government to give West Midlands leaders more powers and resources to help people prepare and adapt to the changes ahead.

Cities Outlook 2018 is Centre for Cities’ annual health-check on the performance of UK city economies and this year it focuses on the potential impact of automation and globalisation in driving both jobs growth and job losses over the coming decades

It reveals that one in five existing jobs in British cities are likely to be displaced by 2030 as a result of automation and globalisation – amounting to 3.6m jobs in total – with retail occupations, customer service roles and warehouse jobs among those most at threat.

Cities in the north and Midlands will be more exposed to job losses than those in the south.

Around 18 per cent of jobs are under threat in southern cities, compared to 23 per cent in cities elsewhere in the country.

It also raises concerns that automation and globalisation will magnify the political dissatisfaction and divisions highlighted by the outcome of the EU referendum in 2016 – with many cities most at risk of losing jobs also among those which voted most strongly for Brexit.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “Automation and globalisation will bring huge opportunities to increase prosperity and jobs, but there is also a real risk that many people and places will lose out.

“The time to act is now – national and local leaders need to ensure that people across the West Midlands can share in the benefits these changes could offer.

“That means reforming the education system to give young people the cognitive and interpersonal skills they need to thrive in the future, and improving school standards, especially in places where jobs are most at risk.

“We also need greater investment in lifelong learning and technical education to help adults adapt to the changing labour market, and better retraining for people who lose their jobs because of these changes.

“The Government needs to give Mayor Andy Street and local leaders across the West Midlands more powers and resources to tackle the issues that automation and globalisation will present, and to make the most of the benefits they will bring.”