Institute for the Future of Work
@ifow.org
An independent research and development institute exploring how new technologies are transforming work and working lives. http://www.ifow.org
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.ifow.org/newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.ifow.org/newsletter
Good work matters from the very start of working life.
👇 New research reveals that first jobs that build young people’s confidence and skills to take on greater responsibility can lead to higher earnings later in their careers - but access to those jobs remains sharply unequal.
👇 New research reveals that first jobs that build young people’s confidence and skills to take on greater responsibility can lead to higher earnings later in their careers - but access to those jobs remains sharply unequal.
The first rung: How the experience of a first job shapes what comes next - Social Market Foundation. The First Rung: How Your First Job Shapes Your Career - Social Market Foundation.
SMF research finds first jobs that build confidence boost earnings by 24% by one's mid-30s, but access to the best pathways is far from equal.
www.smf.co.uk
September 9, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Good work matters from the very start of working life.
👇 New research reveals that first jobs that build young people’s confidence and skills to take on greater responsibility can lead to higher earnings later in their careers - but access to those jobs remains sharply unequal.
👇 New research reveals that first jobs that build young people’s confidence and skills to take on greater responsibility can lead to higher earnings later in their careers - but access to those jobs remains sharply unequal.
What job adverts don't you get to see?
New blog from EHRC on hidden biases in job ad recommendations👇
New blog from EHRC on hidden biases in job ad recommendations👇
The job adverts you don’t get to see
Hidden biases, hidden jobs - and what online platforms must do now By Claire Lesko; AI Compliance Lead, Equality and Human Rights Commission Have you ever wondered why the job adverts you see on socia...
www.linkedin.com
September 9, 2026 at 10:56 AM
What job adverts don't you get to see?
New blog from EHRC on hidden biases in job ad recommendations👇
New blog from EHRC on hidden biases in job ad recommendations👇
'We live in a world of AI - and that makes reading more important, not less important.’
This was teacher and principal Emma Butler on R4 today, responding to new OECD research revealing that global literacy levels are declining, amid concerns about the impact of AI on education.
This was teacher and principal Emma Butler on R4 today, responding to new OECD research revealing that global literacy levels are declining, amid concerns about the impact of AI on education.
PISA 2025: Students’ reading and mathematics performance declined sharply across the OECD
Student performance across OECD countries has continued to decline, reaching the lowest average ever recorded by the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in mathematics and readi...
www.oecd.org
September 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM
'We live in a world of AI - and that makes reading more important, not less important.’
This was teacher and principal Emma Butler on R4 today, responding to new OECD research revealing that global literacy levels are declining, amid concerns about the impact of AI on education.
This was teacher and principal Emma Butler on R4 today, responding to new OECD research revealing that global literacy levels are declining, amid concerns about the impact of AI on education.
Net zero can still feel like “something happening over there” or “beyond the horizon” for people in Grimsby and other coastal regions experiencing a renewable energy transition.
This point was made by IFOW Director Oliver Nash and Grimsby MP Melanie Onn at this morning's launch of a new report:
This point was made by IFOW Director Oliver Nash and Grimsby MP Melanie Onn at this morning's launch of a new report:
Second wind • Resolution Foundation
Net zero is touted as a way to regenerate local economies and cushion industrial decline, as well as delivering cheap energy. Aberdeen and Grimsby show that it cannot do all three in every place that ...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
September 3, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Net zero can still feel like “something happening over there” or “beyond the horizon” for people in Grimsby and other coastal regions experiencing a renewable energy transition.
This point was made by IFOW Director Oliver Nash and Grimsby MP Melanie Onn at this morning's launch of a new report:
This point was made by IFOW Director Oliver Nash and Grimsby MP Melanie Onn at this morning's launch of a new report:
What does the net zero transition mean for jobs, skills and living standards in the places at the heart of the UK’s green economy?
⏰ Tomorrow, join IFOW Director Oliver Nash, Melanie Onn MP, and the Resolution Foundation, to explore what net zero means for the UK's towns and industrial strategy.
⏰ Tomorrow, join IFOW Director Oliver Nash, Melanie Onn MP, and the Resolution Foundation, to explore what net zero means for the UK's towns and industrial strategy.
Re-industrialising the North? • Resolution Foundation
The UK’s net zero transition will have a major impact on our industrial mix and labour market. While the majority of new ‘green jobs' are likely to be spread thinly across the UK, some local areas – p...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
September 2, 2026 at 1:55 PM
What does the net zero transition mean for jobs, skills and living standards in the places at the heart of the UK’s green economy?
⏰ Tomorrow, join IFOW Director Oliver Nash, Melanie Onn MP, and the Resolution Foundation, to explore what net zero means for the UK's towns and industrial strategy.
⏰ Tomorrow, join IFOW Director Oliver Nash, Melanie Onn MP, and the Resolution Foundation, to explore what net zero means for the UK's towns and industrial strategy.
Fair conditions are at the heart of good work, alongside fair pay, autonomy, dignity and more.
See the Good Work Charter here: www.ifow.org/publications...
Below, the Resolution Foundation explores what the Government’s planned reforms to zero-hours contracts could mean for millions of workers.
See the Good Work Charter here: www.ifow.org/publications...
Below, the Resolution Foundation explores what the Government’s planned reforms to zero-hours contracts could mean for millions of workers.
Zero to hero? • Resolution Foundation
Charlie McCurdy looks at the Government’s plan to end exploitative zero-hours contracts Right now, workers on variable-hours contracts shoulder the risks of unpredictable hours (and income), even as t...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
September 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Fair conditions are at the heart of good work, alongside fair pay, autonomy, dignity and more.
See the Good Work Charter here: www.ifow.org/publications...
Below, the Resolution Foundation explores what the Government’s planned reforms to zero-hours contracts could mean for millions of workers.
See the Good Work Charter here: www.ifow.org/publications...
Below, the Resolution Foundation explores what the Government’s planned reforms to zero-hours contracts could mean for millions of workers.
Graduate vacancies have halved over the past year, according to job website Adzuna, with AI and rising costs cited as potential factors in this decrease.
Graduate job vacancies drop by almost 50% in a year, survey suggests
Job site Adzuna said the number of graduate vacancies was the lowest since 2016
www.bbc.co.uk
August 24, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Graduate vacancies have halved over the past year, according to job website Adzuna, with AI and rising costs cited as potential factors in this decrease.
Public procurement is one of government’s most significant economic levers.
New Social Value Model reforms put good jobs at the heart of procurement, with a 10% weighting from £1m and 20% from £5m, creating new opportunities for Mayors to connect spending with labour market evidence and good work.
New Social Value Model reforms put good jobs at the heart of procurement, with a 10% weighting from £1m and 20% from £5m, creating new opportunities for Mayors to connect spending with labour market evidence and good work.
Making good work count in public procurement - IFOW
IFOW helped put good work at the heart of public procurement. Now, the Social Value Model creates new opportunities for Mayors.
ifow.org
August 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Public procurement is one of government’s most significant economic levers.
New Social Value Model reforms put good jobs at the heart of procurement, with a 10% weighting from £1m and 20% from £5m, creating new opportunities for Mayors to connect spending with labour market evidence and good work.
New Social Value Model reforms put good jobs at the heart of procurement, with a 10% weighting from £1m and 20% from £5m, creating new opportunities for Mayors to connect spending with labour market evidence and good work.
We're delighted that IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas MBE will be speaking at the Oxford Generative AI Summit again this year.
Early bird tickets are almost gone. More details here: www.oxgensummit.org/speakers/ann...
Early bird tickets are almost gone. More details here: www.oxgensummit.org/speakers/ann...
August 17, 2026 at 11:52 AM
We're delighted that IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas MBE will be speaking at the Oxford Generative AI Summit again this year.
Early bird tickets are almost gone. More details here: www.oxgensummit.org/speakers/ann...
Early bird tickets are almost gone. More details here: www.oxgensummit.org/speakers/ann...
🎉 Congratulations to all young people receiving results today!
Our research shows that building better pathways into good work for young people means helping them understand their motivations and values, navigate opportunities, and develop the capabilities to thrive in a changing labour market.
Our research shows that building better pathways into good work for young people means helping them understand their motivations and values, navigate opportunities, and develop the capabilities to thrive in a changing labour market.
Channelling Motivations - IFOW
Find out about the work IFOW has been doing in partnership with the EY Foundation to help young people from low-income backgrounds access good work in this age of technological transformation.
www.ifow.org
August 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
🎉 Congratulations to all young people receiving results today!
Our research shows that building better pathways into good work for young people means helping them understand their motivations and values, navigate opportunities, and develop the capabilities to thrive in a changing labour market.
Our research shows that building better pathways into good work for young people means helping them understand their motivations and values, navigate opportunities, and develop the capabilities to thrive in a changing labour market.
🎵 Spotify is introducing AI Persona labels for AI-generated artist profiles from September and will remove AI Personas from editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default.
The move follows the meteoric rise and backlash against the AI-generated ‘band’ The Velvet Sundown.
The move follows the meteoric rise and backlash against the AI-generated ‘band’ The Velvet Sundown.
Spotify to introduce AI badge after fans make feelings 'clear'
The new feature, starting from mid-September, will tell listeners if an artist is AI-generated.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 13, 2026 at 9:42 AM
🎵 Spotify is introducing AI Persona labels for AI-generated artist profiles from September and will remove AI Personas from editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default.
The move follows the meteoric rise and backlash against the AI-generated ‘band’ The Velvet Sundown.
The move follows the meteoric rise and backlash against the AI-generated ‘band’ The Velvet Sundown.
Around 60% of surveyed London employers report substantial use of approved generative AI tools, while informal "shadow AI" is also widespread.
But governance, workforce engagement and training are developing much more slowly than adoption itself.
But governance, workforce engagement and training are developing much more slowly than adoption itself.
www.london.gov.uk
August 7, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Around 60% of surveyed London employers report substantial use of approved generative AI tools, while informal "shadow AI" is also widespread.
But governance, workforce engagement and training are developing much more slowly than adoption itself.
But governance, workforce engagement and training are developing much more slowly than adoption itself.
The strongest evidence is not of jobs disappearing - but of work being redesigned.
London's creative industries are seeing changes in demand and production, while professional services are redesigning knowledge work. The strongest evidence is of tasks and roles changing - not widespread job losses.
London's creative industries are seeing changes in demand and production, while professional services are redesigning knowledge work. The strongest evidence is of tasks and roles changing - not widespread job losses.
www.london.gov.uk
August 6, 2026 at 7:30 AM
The strongest evidence is not of jobs disappearing - but of work being redesigned.
London's creative industries are seeing changes in demand and production, while professional services are redesigning knowledge work. The strongest evidence is of tasks and roles changing - not widespread job losses.
London's creative industries are seeing changes in demand and production, while professional services are redesigning knowledge work. The strongest evidence is of tasks and roles changing - not widespread job losses.
London is comparatively well placed to adapt to AI - but its resilience is unevenly shared.
Around 600,000 Londoners work in occupations with high AI exposure and lower adaptive capacity. This is not a forecast of job losses, but it does identify where targeted support may be most needed.
Around 600,000 Londoners work in occupations with high AI exposure and lower adaptive capacity. This is not a forecast of job losses, but it does identify where targeted support may be most needed.
www.london.gov.uk
August 5, 2026 at 7:30 AM
London is comparatively well placed to adapt to AI - but its resilience is unevenly shared.
Around 600,000 Londoners work in occupations with high AI exposure and lower adaptive capacity. This is not a forecast of job losses, but it does identify where targeted support may be most needed.
Around 600,000 Londoners work in occupations with high AI exposure and lower adaptive capacity. This is not a forecast of job losses, but it does identify where targeted support may be most needed.
London has the highest average AI exposure of any UK region - but exposure is not the same as vulnerability.
Our evidence introduces a new measure of adaptive capacity, showing that AI risk depends not just on technology, but on workers' ability to adapt.
Our evidence introduces a new measure of adaptive capacity, showing that AI risk depends not just on technology, but on workers' ability to adapt.
www.london.gov.uk
August 4, 2026 at 7:30 AM
London has the highest average AI exposure of any UK region - but exposure is not the same as vulnerability.
Our evidence introduces a new measure of adaptive capacity, showing that AI risk depends not just on technology, but on workers' ability to adapt.
Our evidence introduces a new measure of adaptive capacity, showing that AI risk depends not just on technology, but on workers' ability to adapt.
AI is already reshaping work in London gradually and unevenly. However, the impact will be determined not by technology alone, but by the choices employers, workers and institutions make now.
August 3, 2026 at 7:30 AM
AI is already reshaping work in London gradually and unevenly. However, the impact will be determined not by technology alone, but by the choices employers, workers and institutions make now.
📣 Our last newsletter before a summer pause is here.
Read below for the latest evidence on how AI is reshaping jobs in London, what the new Prime Minister's focus on devolution and innovation could mean for the future of work, and a selection of summer reads for the new government...
Read below for the latest evidence on how AI is reshaping jobs in London, what the new Prime Minister's focus on devolution and innovation could mean for the future of work, and a selection of summer reads for the new government...
July Newsletter - Devolution and Innovation - IFOW
AI Taskforce(s) and IFOW's summer reads
ifow.org
July 31, 2026 at 11:27 AM
📣 Our last newsletter before a summer pause is here.
Read below for the latest evidence on how AI is reshaping jobs in London, what the new Prime Minister's focus on devolution and innovation could mean for the future of work, and a selection of summer reads for the new government...
Read below for the latest evidence on how AI is reshaping jobs in London, what the new Prime Minister's focus on devolution and innovation could mean for the future of work, and a selection of summer reads for the new government...
Good to see the maturing of the conversation around what AI 'means' in terms of deeper infrastructure, impacts on grid load - and local people. Getting AI 'right' isn't just about use, it has to be about the full system architecture being designed for good.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Data centres could pay hundreds of millions in deposits for power demands
The regulator said a fee of between £237,500 to £712,500 per megawatt should be charged for upcoming projects.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 30, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Good to see the maturing of the conversation around what AI 'means' in terms of deeper infrastructure, impacts on grid load - and local people. Getting AI 'right' isn't just about use, it has to be about the full system architecture being designed for good.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"The book trade is deeply split over how to handle a technology that some publishers and authors vow not to touch but which others identify as a huge opportunity that is already changing reading and listening habits." - Very good piece on #AI and #publishing: www.ft.com/content/6b52...
The new premium product: books written by people
Some publishers think AI could not only help authors but replace them
www.ft.com
July 27, 2026 at 8:55 AM
"The book trade is deeply split over how to handle a technology that some publishers and authors vow not to touch but which others identify as a huge opportunity that is already changing reading and listening habits." - Very good piece on #AI and #publishing: www.ft.com/content/6b52...
We are delighted to see the creation of a dedicated Minister of State for the Future of Work - something that we have called for for many years, and recommended in the Final Report of the Pisssarides Review, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org. Read the report here: www.ifow.org/publications...
The Final Report of the Pissarides Review - IFOW
The culmination of three years research, we propose a new model of human-centred automation and a new socio-economic paradigm of Good Work
www.ifow.org
July 27, 2026 at 8:09 AM
We are delighted to see the creation of a dedicated Minister of State for the Future of Work - something that we have called for for many years, and recommended in the Final Report of the Pisssarides Review, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org. Read the report here: www.ifow.org/publications...
Great to hear Baroness Martha Lane Fox on BBC World at One highlighting IFOW's research for the Mayor of London's AI and Jobs Taskforce.
Responding to OECD reports that a majority of London jobs face risk, Fox drew on IFOW's Taskforce research to emphasise how AI is changing jobs, tasks and roles.
Responding to OECD reports that a majority of London jobs face risk, Fox drew on IFOW's Taskforce research to emphasise how AI is changing jobs, tasks and roles.
July 21, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Great to hear Baroness Martha Lane Fox on BBC World at One highlighting IFOW's research for the Mayor of London's AI and Jobs Taskforce.
Responding to OECD reports that a majority of London jobs face risk, Fox drew on IFOW's Taskforce research to emphasise how AI is changing jobs, tasks and roles.
Responding to OECD reports that a majority of London jobs face risk, Fox drew on IFOW's Taskforce research to emphasise how AI is changing jobs, tasks and roles.
Today, the Mayor of London has accepted all the recommendations of the AI and Jobs Taskforce, following the publication of the Taskforce's report and evidence summary - backed by three months of research and engagement led by IFOW.
Mayor backs £30m investment to help London shape the future of work—not wait for it
Artificial intelligence (AI) will transform London’s economy. But an AI ‘jobs apocalypse’ is not inevitable, and neither is a future in which technology benefits only a privileged few. That is the con...
www.london.gov.uk
July 21, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Today, the Mayor of London has accepted all the recommendations of the AI and Jobs Taskforce, following the publication of the Taskforce's report and evidence summary - backed by three months of research and engagement led by IFOW.
The conversation around AI adoption may be maturing, the FT reported this week, with organisations beginning to move beyond "tokenmaxxing", or measuring AI success primarily through usage metrics.
Employers pushed staff to use AI more. That has backfired
Incentives to use new tools are changing as costs start to hit home
www.ft.com
July 17, 2026 at 11:35 AM
The conversation around AI adoption may be maturing, the FT reported this week, with organisations beginning to move beyond "tokenmaxxing", or measuring AI success primarily through usage metrics.
AI may become radically more powerful over the next decade, driving major economic transformation with significant risks and opportunities.
Economists, policymakers and technology leaders must act now to build the incentives, guardrails and institutions needed to ensure it benefits society.
Economists, policymakers and technology leaders must act now to build the incentives, guardrails and institutions needed to ensure it benefits society.
July 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM
AI may become radically more powerful over the next decade, driving major economic transformation with significant risks and opportunities.
Economists, policymakers and technology leaders must act now to build the incentives, guardrails and institutions needed to ensure it benefits society.
Economists, policymakers and technology leaders must act now to build the incentives, guardrails and institutions needed to ensure it benefits society.
The world of work is changing rapidly. IFOW Associate Director Oliver Nash joined BBC Radio London to discuss how AI is reshaping jobs and skills - and why we need to focus on augmentation, not just replacement.
Listen from 1:24:
Listen from 1:24:
Eddie Nestor - Jim Davis sits in (14/07/2026) - BBC Sounds
The best topical guests and stories in London mixed with great music and your calls.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 16, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The world of work is changing rapidly. IFOW Associate Director Oliver Nash joined BBC Radio London to discuss how AI is reshaping jobs and skills - and why we need to focus on augmentation, not just replacement.
Listen from 1:24:
Listen from 1:24: