05 Economic Trends Fueled by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Economic Trends Post-COVID-19

People are in the streets during COVID-19 pandemic wearing masks; a postman is in the front of the picture with small packages in his hands. — The pandemic reshaped habits and accelerated economic trends worldwide.

With the coronavirus pandemic, people worldwide had to drastically change their habits. Some of these new living and working practices are here to stay. Below are five economic trends fueled by COVID-19 that are expected to remain significant in the post-pandemic world.

1. Remote Work

The pandemic forced companies to quickly adopt remote work, even those previously resistant to the idea. Gartner reports that 48% of employees are expected to work remotely at least part-time post-pandemic, compared to 30% before the crisis.

In Brazil, 51% of companies had not implemented remote work before COVID-19. After adjustments, 80% of managers expressed satisfaction with the new model.

2. Virtual and Immersive Experiences

Lockdowns led to a surge in esports and immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). For example, virtual concerts like John Legend’s avatar performance on the Wave platform gained global attention.

As public spaces closed, people sought innovative entertainment solutions, accelerating the adoption of these technologies.

3. HealthTech and EdTech Solutions

COVID-19 boosted the expansion of HealthTech and EdTech startups. In Brazil, telemedicine adoption grew rapidly, with hospitals like Albert Einstein increasing daily teleconsultations from 80 to 600.

Globally, EdTech investments soared, highlighted by Yuanfudao’s $1 billion funding for AI-based online tutoring.

4. Well-being and Mental Health

Social distancing encouraged individuals to focus on health and well-being. Trends like healthier nutrition and health apps gained traction. Employers are now rethinking HR policies to include corporate wellness programs to attract talent.

5. Conscious Consumption and DIY Trends

Consumer habits shifted towards online shopping and DIY activities. Google trends revealed spikes in searches for “homemade bread recipe” and “home exercise,” reflecting this change.

In Brazil, 46% of respondents plan to reduce visits to malls, while 30% aim to shop more online in the post-pandemic era.