Main findings for robotics in personal services

The personal services sector is expected to grow due to increased outsourcing of household services by cash-rich and time-poor households. Households are increasingly applying their own robotic solutions to solve personal chores such as lawn mowing, pool and floor cleaning. The sector’s workforce is the youngest and one of the lowest paid, with low skills meaning robotics could potentially have a large impact, taking away mundane work and leading to upskilling of the sector. There are two main ways that robotic technologies can benefit personal services: firstly in reducing labour costs by assisting or replacing human workers, and secondly, in increasing product or services sales by interacting and influencing customers by using social robots. Service robots in everyday environments or public settings are still a novelty in Australia but they have significant potential.