With the coronavirus pandemic, people worldwide had to drastically change their habits. Some of these new life and work practices are here to stay, as experts have already noted. We have listed five economic trends that were fueled by COVID-19, which are expected to remain significant in a post-pandemic world.

1. Remote Work

The coronavirus pandemic forced many companies to suddenly adopt remote work—even those that would never have changed their work model because they didn’t believe in working from home.

However, after several months of lockdown, the experiment seems to have shifted the minds of business leaders. Gartner found in a recent survey that 48% of employees are likely to continue working from home at least a few days after COVID-19. Before the pandemic, this applied to only 30%.

According to a survey of the Brazilian market by ISE Business School, remote work was not a reality for 51% of Brazilian companies until the start of the crisis. But after an initial adaptation period, 80% of managers indicated that they now enjoy the new way of working.

2. Virtual and Immersive Experiences

To curb the spread of the new virus, events had to be canceled, and venues such as cinemas, bars, parks, and other public spaces were forced to suspend their activities. This is why many people have sought alternative entertainment and distraction options.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in the audience for esports events,” said Todd Sitrin, Senior Vice President of EA’s Competitive Gaming Division.

Moreover, immersive technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality were boosted by the global pandemic. As Maor Cohen, CEO and co-founder of n*gram health, notes, “There has never been a greater need for technologies that can help us enhance limited physical environments.”

An interesting example is the series of experimental live shows that took place on the VR Wave social platform. It included a show by John Legend in June, where he appeared as an avatar in an immersive virtual world.

3. HealthTech and EdTech Solutions Driven by the Pandemic

Even before the global health crisis, HealthTech startups were expanding significantly worldwide. Naturally, COVID-19 has tremendously accelerated growth in the sector. Many of these companies focus on technologies that help identify infected individuals. Others aid in rapid data analysis to support health agencies in decision-making.

Unlike China, Brazil did not allow telemedicine until March of this year. But to meet urgent needs, Brazilian law was exceptionally modified. In response, the renowned Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo reported an increase in teleconsultations from 80 to 600 per day.

Additionally, we saw a rapid expansion of commercial EdTech during the large-scale closure of schools and universities. The Chinese startup Yuanfudao received $1 billion for its AI-based online tutoring platform.

4. Well-being and (Mental) Health

Due to the new virus, social distancing, and quarantine, people have become more attentive to their personal health and well-being. Consumers want to prioritize their own health, looking for preventive options like healthier nutrition and adopting health apps.

Employers will need to provide healthier work environments and include wellness programs in their benefits packages to attract qualified workers.

5. Conscious Consumption and DIY Trend

A study by Ibespe and Febraban revealed that 46% of consumers plan to reduce visits to physical stores post-pandemic, while 30% plan to shop online more frequently.

Meanwhile, interest in DIY activities has surged. Google search data shows spikes in terms like “homemade bread recipe,” “cut hair at home,” and “home workout.” Experts believe this trend of self-empowerment will persist.