“The upheaval in global labour markets triggered by the coronavirus pandemic has transformed the working lives of people, and has escalated the inevitable digital change that was already coming.
The growing consensus across sectors is that more staff in the future will be hired remotely and will work from home. While the extent to which companies will adopt a flexible working model will differ substantially depending on roles, sectors and levels, the fact that a significant proportion of the workforce will not have to be physically present in their offices all of the time represents an opportunity for rural communities and wider regional balanced development.
As AmCham’s Southern Chair, I am passionate about what this could mean for the region, and how it can revitalise rural communities, while also giving people the choice to settle outside the larger urban towns and cities.
Our starting position is strong, the UN rates Ireland second in the world for quality of life. However, as the world of work changes, people will have greater choice on where they want to live. Ireland will have to leverage our quality-of-life factors
While the focus over the past year has rightly been on the rollout of digital infrastructure to meet the demands of the changing landscape, we cannot lose sight on the importance of physical infrastructure in the debate. With more of our workforce being encouraged to work in every corner of the country, we need to ensure that communities are well served in terms of physical connectedness. It is for this reason that the delivery of projects such as the M20 between Cork and Limerick and the completion of the Dunkettle interchange are key priorities for AmCham and me.
In my other capacity as chair of AmCham’s Infrastructure Taskforce I know the value placed on physical connectedness by potential investors and the importance of good connectivity for Ireland’s global competitive reputation. AmCham’s taskforce works to ensure that the government delivers key projects and prioritises regional balance while also maintaining international connectivity as set out in the programme for government, the National Development Plan and the National Recovery Plan.
Seamus Fives is API network lead at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, AmCham Southern Chair and Chair of AmCham's Infrastructure Taskforce
