Are Robots Really on a Roll? The 2018 City Outlook Report Unpacked
It’s fresh out of the research press with a splash of irony: the UK’s bustling city economies are in for a big shake‑up. The Cities Outlook 2018 (yeah, all that paperwork is now official) tells a story that is part gadget‑gossip, part economic thriller – and it’s all about automation and globalisation playing whack‑a‑job.
Plug‑In: What’s the Bottom Line?
- 1 in 5 city jobs could be displaced by 2030 – that’s roughly 3.6 million slots leaving the job‑market.
- Retail, customer service and warehouse positions are the front‑line targets. Picture your favourite in‑store prompt, but now it’s a robotic prompt.
London – Less of a Target, but Still a Hotspot
London’s estimated bleed‑off rate tops out at 16 %, or 907 800 jobs. A surprisingly small slice compared with other domestic powerhouses.
Top 10 Cities Least at Risk (out of 62)
- Oxford – 13 %
30 % voting pro‑Brexit, £600/week wages. - Cambridge – 13 %
26 % pro‑Brexit, £609/week wages. - Reading – 15 %
43 % pro‑Brexit, £655/week wages. - Worthing – 16 %
53 % pro‑Brexit, £455/week wages. - London – 16 %
42 % pro‑Brexit, £727/week wages. - Edinburgh – 18 %
26 % pro‑Brexit, £598/week wages. - Brighton – 19 %
36 % pro‑Brexit, £496/week wages. - Blackpool – 19 %
63 % pro‑Brexit, £500/week wages. - York – 19 %
42 % pro‑Brexit, £501/week wages. - Portsmouth – 19 %
59 % pro‑Brexit, £520/week wages.
UK average: 21 % job risk, 52 % pro‑Brexit, £539 wages.
Top 10 Cities Most at Risk (out of 62)
- Mansfield – 29 %
70 % pro‑Brexit, £472/week wages. - Sussex Land – 29 %
61 % pro‑Brexit, £484/week wages. - Wakefield – 29 %
66 % pro‑Brexit, £483/week wages. - Stoke – 28 %
67 % pro‑Brexit, £455/week wages. - Doncaster – 27 %
69 % pro‑Brexit, £447/week wages. - Blackburn – 26 %
56 % pro‑Brexit, £488/week wages. - Northampton – 26 %
58 % pro‑Brexit, £508/week wages. - Dundee – 25 %
40 % pro‑Brexit, £503/week wages. - Huddersfield – 25 %
55 % pro‑Brexit, £424/week wages. - Telford – 25 %
63 % pro‑Brexit, £497/week wages.
Both §§ show glaring discrepancies: North and Midlands towns are bearing the brunt, often where the EU‑exit enthusiasm was strongest.
Humor with Heart: What This Means for You
Picture your favourite Tesco straight‑forward cashier, only now she’s a robotic hand delivering groceries. That’s the literal vibe of a hetched automation wave: robots will help keep shelves stocked but they’ll also steal some of the gigs we hold dear.
Meanwhile, for the classic management‑mind of every city, there’s a new frontier of skills upgrade and adaptability. It’s a chance – not a curse. Feel good about boosting your tech know‑how – you’ll be the first human to out‑perform the machine on the street side with a personal touch.
Final Thought: Keep the City Pulse Alive
We’re not just talking about numbers; it’s about real people and real city life. Tightening the armor by reshaping work, re‑investing in human capital, and smirking at the times when a robot ensues a click‑clack supermarket. The future’s a blend of human spirit and tech thrive.
