Economic disruption caused by the spread of the coronavirus could impact work in numerous ways—from loss of wages suffered by low-wage workers, to reconfiguration of global job location, to greater dependence on technology to keep employees connected if workplaces are closed due to health concerns.

Alexander Colvin, dean of Cornell University’s ILR School, is a work, labor and employment scholar. 

Colvin says, "When times get tough, it's often the most vulnerable who take the worst hit. Economic slowdown due to the coronavirus will disproportionately impact low-wage workers, who often lack benefits such as paid sick leave.

“This situation could result in some businesses taking stock of whether to place production jobs in developing countries or locating them in developed countries. Calculations about the benefits and costs of moving jobs to different countries adds to uncertainty around the impact of the virus on employment.

“Moving jobs back to the US would come with additional labor costs, but the coronavirus might be a tipping point for some companies considering the return of some jobs to the US.

“Technology will become even more central to work if working from home is mandated by more organizations during the coronavirus outbreak. Many workers could experience sustained remote work for the first time in their careers.”