According to Blit (2020), Retail Trade sector in Canada ranks high on both the proximity (approximately 3.5) and the face-to-face (4.6) scales of worker exposure to coronavirus.1 These values suggest that high incentives exist to automate operations in this sector. Moreover, 70% of the workers in Retail Trade are in routine occupations, suggesting it may also be feasible to automate operations in this sector.

(a) Describe what pattern in the unemployment pool is likely to arise in this sector during 2020?

(b) in 2021-22

(c) Describe any two distinct economic policies that can affect the patterns you have noted in parts (a) and (b).