Millions of Asean jobs at risk from automation: UN body: Page 4 of 5

 
The retail reality and e-commerce
 

 
Many believe that Asean is experiencing an e-commerce boom, but the truth is that online makes up less than 1% of all retail sales in the region, according to Chang.
 
Even in highly-developed Singapore, it’s only about 3.4%.
 
Despite the enormous investments being poured into the sector, Asean e-commerce faces all sorts of issues – ranging from the cultural to a lack of confidence in online payments and lagging infrastructure, including logistics.
 
But if these issues can be addressed, “there is huge growth potential,” said Chang.
 
However, this would be bad news for the retail sector, which is also the region’s biggest job-creator, employing 44.6 million people, with half of them being women.
 
“We found that the retail sector is the slowest in terms of technology uptake … there are still so many of ‘mom-and-pop’ stores and small local traditional shops,” said Chang.
 
“In cities like Ho Chi Minh and Jakarta, 70% of retail sales come from these small shops,” she added.
 

 
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