#1. 80% of restaurant jobs could be taken over by robots
More than 80% of restaurant positions could be automated. That’s according to a report published by a restaurant consulting firm Aaron Allen & Associates. The study concludes that the majority (51%) of positions foreseen to be automated would fall under the category of server positions. Robots are also expected to replace 57% of fast-food and counter workers. Traditionally, companies and restaurants have used automation to bridge the skills gap, but due to current high unemployment levels caused by the pandemic, labour shortages have become less of a problem short-term. Instead, what’s driving automation right now is the physical distance economy, which has accelerated the push towards off-premises dining, leading to a different kind of staffing set-up.