Worldwide COVID-19 cases hit a new milestone of more than 41 million this week.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the labor market to change faster than expected and embrace automation.  

As digital nomad jobs rise, it can take a toll on some workers, especially those on the lower level of the supply chain.

According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, about 85 million jobs could be displaced by 2025 as the pandemic increases workplace automation, while 97 million new roles could emerge and that are better suited for the new division of labor between humans and machines.

And nearly 43 percent of companies surveyed indicate they were set to reduce their workforce due to technology integration, the WEF said in its report.

COVID-19 is also accelerating the skills gap within the workforce in the next five years. 

On average, 94 percent of businesses expect employees to pick up new skills, a significant increase from 65 percent in 2018.

Last week's jobless claims showed American workers continued to hit the unemployment line in large numbers, with almost 900,000 new claims filed, the highest since August. 

That’s a sign the labor market continues to struggle, even as about half the jobs lost in the pandemic, have now been replaced.

The pandemic is eating away at the backbone of the world economy, it may have the most negative impact on less skilled and lower wage employees, especially among women and younger workers, according to WEF.

The World Bank warned that the pandemic could push an additional 88 to 115 million people into extreme poverty in 2020.  Depending on the seriousness of the economic downturn, the total could rise to 150 million by 2021.

“The pandemic and global recession may cause over 1.4 percent of the world’s population to fall into extreme poverty,” World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement.