Almost 40% of time spent on chores could be automated within 10 years, study finds

These not-so-distant household automations could benefit working-age women significantly, experts suggest

39% of time spent on chores – or four out of 10 hours - could be automated within 10 years, a new study has found.

Amongst the household tasks analysed, time dedicated to grocery shopping was listed as the most automatable, with ironing, washing up and cooking also featuring.

The study, conducted by the University of Oxford and Japan’s Ochanomizu University, further found that 28% of care work is predicted to be automated in the future. It estimates that time spent in this area could fall by almost 60%, with an increasing proportion of time freed up for leisure activities.