In the face of a labour shortage, automation can bolster worker autonomy, enhance job quality, and foster skill development, all without compromising overall employment, according to a recent study on shared services centres (SSCs) in Poland conducted by the EU-funded Project UNTANGLED.

The recent slump in international trade was not a result of advancements in digitalisation and automation, a new UNTANGLED study finds. In fact, the adoption of robots and widespread use of information and communications technologies are strengthening the global organisation of production rather than leading to reshoring, as some have assumed.

The final conference of Project UNTANGLED, “Labour Market Effects and Social Impact of Technological Transformation, Globalisation, and Demographic Change”, provided an opportunity to share our outcomes and engage in discussions with fellow scholars studying labour market trends.

If we are about to enter a golden age for workers, marked by higher wages, better working conditions, and the eradication of particularly hazardous tasks, then the trajectory of technological progress and the shift toward a green economy must be meticulously guided. Policies must be established to ensure that no one is left behind. This is the pivotal takeaway from the recent UNTANGLED debate.