The Rise of the Cobots--Friends, Not Foes, in Today's Manufacturing Landscape

These robotic partners were hailed as'the future of work', particularly in the manufacturing sector, but concerns about widespread robotic implementation are rife. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in March claim that 1.5 million people in England alone are at risk of losing their jobs to automation, suggesting that these fears are justified. However, automation can actually help manufacturers thrive and survive many of the workforce challenges they currently face. These include the'crippling skills shortage', which continues to blight the industry, and is putting workforces under increased pressure. At the same time, tougher immigration rules, associated with the UK's imminent departure from the EU, means that working in the UK will become less attractive or accessible for foreign nationals.