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
Great to have IFOW trustee Professor Gina Neff on the BBC this Sunday, speaking to the increasingly urgent need for strong regulation and trusted AI systems as more and more digital products and platforms are embedded with AI explainers, assistants and chatbots.
November 13, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Great to have IFOW trustee Professor Gina Neff on the BBC this Sunday, speaking to the increasingly urgent need for strong regulation and trusted AI systems as more and more digital products and platforms are embedded with AI explainers, assistants and chatbots.
Great to see IFOW Research Fellow Shuting Xia contribute to this LSE blog on good work questions around digital work in developing economies.
#Digital livelihoods are hailed as a borderless opportunity for #refugees.
But searching online doesn't easily translate into paid work, new research shows. Connections with real people matter.
Lorraine Charles @cam.ac.uk, Marie Godin and Shuting Xia @ifow.org for @lseinequalities.bsky.social.
But searching online doesn't easily translate into paid work, new research shows. Connections with real people matter.
Lorraine Charles @cam.ac.uk, Marie Godin and Shuting Xia @ifow.org for @lseinequalities.bsky.social.
It’s not digital platforms that hire refugees – it’s people
Is digital work a borderless opportunity for refugees? Evidence from Kenya - in camp and urban settings - reveals the importance of a web of human relationships
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Great to see IFOW Research Fellow Shuting Xia contribute to this LSE blog on good work questions around digital work in developing economies.
The Keep Britain Working Review published this week highlighted the significant challenges in supporting people in work amidst growing health struggles. At an expert roundtable in March, we met with Sir Charlie Mayfield to underscore the impact of workplace technologies on health and wellbeing.
Keep Britain Working Review: Final report
Keep Britain Working is an independent review of the role of employers in tackling health based economic inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces.
www.gov.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The Keep Britain Working Review published this week highlighted the significant challenges in supporting people in work amidst growing health struggles. At an expert roundtable in March, we met with Sir Charlie Mayfield to underscore the impact of workplace technologies on health and wellbeing.
How much uncertainty can be tolerated when it comes to regulating AI? In a new blog piece, Professor Moore
@digigirlz.bsky.social explores the autonomy and unpredictability that creates artificial intelligence - and what this means for risk and regulation. Read below:
@digigirlz.bsky.social explores the autonomy and unpredictability that creates artificial intelligence - and what this means for risk and regulation. Read below:
Inside the Black Box: Risk and uncertainty for AI in EU law - IFOW
How much uncertainty should be tolerated in the legal making and compliance space when it comes to AI?
www.ifow.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:55 PM
How much uncertainty can be tolerated when it comes to regulating AI? In a new blog piece, Professor Moore
@digigirlz.bsky.social explores the autonomy and unpredictability that creates artificial intelligence - and what this means for risk and regulation. Read below:
@digigirlz.bsky.social explores the autonomy and unpredictability that creates artificial intelligence - and what this means for risk and regulation. Read below:
Our November newsletter is here! Read below for the comment on recent regulatory developments in the UK and EU, and to catch up on curated reads and events from the #FutureofWork space.
If you're not subscribed, sign up here to get next month's newsletter in full: www.ifow.org/newsletter
If you're not subscribed, sign up here to get next month's newsletter in full: www.ifow.org/newsletter
November Newsletter - Sandboxing and the EU AI Act - IFOW
Comment on the Government's AI Growth Labs and a new blog asking - Is EU AI regulation happening inside a black box?
www.ifow.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Our November newsletter is here! Read below for the comment on recent regulatory developments in the UK and EU, and to catch up on curated reads and events from the #FutureofWork space.
If you're not subscribed, sign up here to get next month's newsletter in full: www.ifow.org/newsletter
If you're not subscribed, sign up here to get next month's newsletter in full: www.ifow.org/newsletter
The labour market can seem a little spooky at the moment. Talk of a gloomy graduate 'jobpocalypse' and predictions of AI taking jobs can loom large. But unmask these narratives and a more nuanced picture appears...
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The labour market can seem a little spooky at the moment. Talk of a gloomy graduate 'jobpocalypse' and predictions of AI taking jobs can loom large. But unmask these narratives and a more nuanced picture appears...
Only 1% of CEOs have a fully formed AI strategy. Despite this, over 75% businesses are using generative AI, as shared by @financialtimes.com this week. The stakes of AI adoption in workplaces are high across the board - for worker wellbeing, for organisations and for the labour market more widely.
The AI rollout is here - and it’s messy | FT Working It
Businesses are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on AI for the workplace. But getting employees to use the tools to their full potential is a huge task.
www.ft.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Only 1% of CEOs have a fully formed AI strategy. Despite this, over 75% businesses are using generative AI, as shared by @financialtimes.com this week. The stakes of AI adoption in workplaces are high across the board - for worker wellbeing, for organisations and for the labour market more widely.
As work continues to see rapid technological transformation, it is more vital than ever that young people are best equipped to access future good jobs. Our work on this is featured in the Edge Foundation’s latest Skills Bulletin.
Skills Shortages Bulletin 17
www.edge.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
As work continues to see rapid technological transformation, it is more vital than ever that young people are best equipped to access future good jobs. Our work on this is featured in the Edge Foundation’s latest Skills Bulletin.
Great to be at @bectu.bsky.social's roundtable in parliament yesterday, marking the launch of Bectu's Big Survey on the creative industries. The report highlights ten key challenges for workers in the screen industries, including the post-Covid slowdown, job insecurity, low pay and poor conditions.
October 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Great to be at @bectu.bsky.social's roundtable in parliament yesterday, marking the launch of Bectu's Big Survey on the creative industries. The report highlights ten key challenges for workers in the screen industries, including the post-Covid slowdown, job insecurity, low pay and poor conditions.
Fair pay and conditions are essential to good work and are foundational to our Good Work Charter. New data from @livingwagefoundation shows that many workers are struggling with pay levels and hours, which has serious consequences for workers' wellbeing and quality of life.
The Good Work Charter - IFOW
Our Good Work Charter provides an organising framework for aspiration, alignment and action to shape a fairer future of better work
www.ifow.org
October 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Fair pay and conditions are essential to good work and are foundational to our Good Work Charter. New data from @livingwagefoundation shows that many workers are struggling with pay levels and hours, which has serious consequences for workers' wellbeing and quality of life.
Today's announcement is a welcome initiative - innovation and good governance should advance together. Our regulatory ecosystems are increasingly fragmented and Sandboxes can help resolve this. The most powerful Sandbox designs don’t just test - they teach lessons on how to improve governance.
New blueprint for AI regulation could speed up planning approvals, slash NHS waiting times, and drive growth and public trust
A new blueprint for AI regulation is being announced by the Technology Secretary today (Tuesday 21st October) to help drive innovation and growth.
www.gov.uk
October 21, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Today's announcement is a welcome initiative - innovation and good governance should advance together. Our regulatory ecosystems are increasingly fragmented and Sandboxes can help resolve this. The most powerful Sandbox designs don’t just test - they teach lessons on how to improve governance.
Exciting to be in both Grimsby and Cornwall this week with our community researchers, synthesising data from 50 researcher interviews. We created design challenges and continued developing prototypes for our Flourish programme, working regionally to bring together job seekers and employers.
October 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Exciting to be in both Grimsby and Cornwall this week with our community researchers, synthesising data from 50 researcher interviews. We created design challenges and continued developing prototypes for our Flourish programme, working regionally to bring together job seekers and employers.
Skills, regional development and labour market participation were raised in the House of Lords this week, so we're looking back at @ippr.org and @thespectator1828.bsky.social panel, where discussions focused on supporting workers into and sustaining good work through technological transformation.
October 16, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Skills, regional development and labour market participation were raised in the House of Lords this week, so we're looking back at @ippr.org and @thespectator1828.bsky.social panel, where discussions focused on supporting workers into and sustaining good work through technological transformation.
How can the UK turn AI ambitions into genuine capability? This Raconteur article looks at the UK's significant AI skills gap - and the need for a national infrastructure that supports AI-platform engineers and pilot projects, while also strengthening digital sovereignty.
@delivervalue.bsky.social
@delivervalue.bsky.social
The UK needs new talent initiatives to close its AI skills gap - Raconteur
Most AI upskilling initiatives focus on either simple tasks or highly technical skills. But this leaves a gap that is largely unaddressed
www.raconteur.net
October 13, 2025 at 1:59 PM
How can the UK turn AI ambitions into genuine capability? This Raconteur article looks at the UK's significant AI skills gap - and the need for a national infrastructure that supports AI-platform engineers and pilot projects, while also strengthening digital sovereignty.
@delivervalue.bsky.social
@delivervalue.bsky.social
TFI Friday? For #WorldMentalHealthDay, we're flagging the importance of work to our wellbeing. Our interviews with workers, taken as part of our Pissarides Review, surfaced how new technologies can lead to the intensification of work, concerns about surveillance and loneliness...
October 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
TFI Friday? For #WorldMentalHealthDay, we're flagging the importance of work to our wellbeing. Our interviews with workers, taken as part of our Pissarides Review, surfaced how new technologies can lead to the intensification of work, concerns about surveillance and loneliness...
Small businesses could save a day a week if they use AI, recent research from Google claims. For a long time, technology has promised to increase productivity while creating more free time for workers to spend on more valuable or ‘rewarding' tasks.
Small businesses could save a day a week if they use AI, Google claims
Research by Google found that AI-powered tools could boost productivity among small and medium enterprises by 20%.
www.independent.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Small businesses could save a day a week if they use AI, recent research from Google claims. For a long time, technology has promised to increase productivity while creating more free time for workers to spend on more valuable or ‘rewarding' tasks.
We were delighted to attend @fesonline.bsky.social Future of Work Conference in Brussels this week, gathering political, academic, trade union and civil partners from across Europe. We look forward to sharing more practical ways to support and create the good jobs that lead to a fairer society.
October 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
We were delighted to attend @fesonline.bsky.social Future of Work Conference in Brussels this week, gathering political, academic, trade union and civil partners from across Europe. We look forward to sharing more practical ways to support and create the good jobs that lead to a fairer society.
Autonomy, dignity, fair pay - these are some key principles that underpin good work. Great to be discussing how to support good transitions into work at the @conservatives.bsky.social Party Conference yesterday with @ippr.org and @thespectator1828.bsky.social. Read our full Good Work Charter below:
The Good Work Charter - IFOW
Our Good Work Charter provides an organising framework for aspiration, alignment and action to shape a fairer future of better work
www.ifow.org
October 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Autonomy, dignity, fair pay - these are some key principles that underpin good work. Great to be discussing how to support good transitions into work at the @conservatives.bsky.social Party Conference yesterday with @ippr.org and @thespectator1828.bsky.social. Read our full Good Work Charter below:
Great to be in Brussels as guests of FES Future of Work, who convened an excellent 'lab' day with economists, academics, trades unions and policymakers discussing work as a key site for social democracy.
October 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Great to be in Brussels as guests of FES Future of Work, who convened an excellent 'lab' day with economists, academics, trades unions and policymakers discussing work as a key site for social democracy.
As the first October weekend approaches, here's a reminder that our monthly newsletter was sent out yesterday.
Here's the full piece on our website:
Here's the full piece on our website:
October Newsletter - Party conferences and tackling Britain's youth unemployment - IFOW
How to tackle Britain's growing youth unemployment crisis
www.ifow.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:43 PM
As the first October weekend approaches, here's a reminder that our monthly newsletter was sent out yesterday.
Here's the full piece on our website:
Here's the full piece on our website:
Our October newsletter is here!
September saw sharpened national focus on the #FutureofWork, with party conference announcements this week on the Youth Guarantee scheme and the PM's pledge to increase numbers enrolled in higher technical courses and apprenticeships. Read all about it here:
September saw sharpened national focus on the #FutureofWork, with party conference announcements this week on the Youth Guarantee scheme and the PM's pledge to increase numbers enrolled in higher technical courses and apprenticeships. Read all about it here:
October Newsletter - Party conferences and tackling Britain's youth unemployment - IFOW
How to tackle Britain's growing youth unemployment crisis
www.ifow.org
October 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Our October newsletter is here!
September saw sharpened national focus on the #FutureofWork, with party conference announcements this week on the Youth Guarantee scheme and the PM's pledge to increase numbers enrolled in higher technical courses and apprenticeships. Read all about it here:
September saw sharpened national focus on the #FutureofWork, with party conference announcements this week on the Youth Guarantee scheme and the PM's pledge to increase numbers enrolled in higher technical courses and apprenticeships. Read all about it here:
Reposted by Institute for the Future of Work
See the @ifow.org report I co-authored on this, following workshops done in schools from Bodmin to Oldham on AI, future mapping and what young people think of tech. www.ifow.org/publications...
Motivating futures - helping young people from low-income backgrounds to thrive in a changing world of work - IFOW
How can intrinsic and internalised motivation help young people from low-income backgrounds access better jobs?
www.ifow.org
September 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
See the @ifow.org report I co-authored on this, following workshops done in schools from Bodmin to Oldham on AI, future mapping and what young people think of tech. www.ifow.org/publications...
Reposted by Institute for the Future of Work
Great to be in Liverpool today with @eyfoundation.bsky.social for expert round table of MPs, careers support specialists and firms presenting on how young people from lower-income backgrounds can access better jobs in this era of AI turbulence. Motivation is key, as is time for reflective practice.
September 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Great to be in Liverpool today with @eyfoundation.bsky.social for expert round table of MPs, careers support specialists and firms presenting on how young people from lower-income backgrounds can access better jobs in this era of AI turbulence. Motivation is key, as is time for reflective practice.
Great to have our Associate Director @oliver-nash.bsky.social on BBC Radio London this morning, discussing the importance of human-centric skills in an ever technologising labour market, as heard below:
September 29, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Great to have our Associate Director @oliver-nash.bsky.social on BBC Radio London this morning, discussing the importance of human-centric skills in an ever technologising labour market, as heard below:
Yesterday we were in Birmingham again with @eyfoundation.bsky.social running pilot interventions with young people from low-income backgrounds.
The Motivating Futures workshops are designed to cultivate intrinsic motivation and help young people towards futures of work that align with their values.
The Motivating Futures workshops are designed to cultivate intrinsic motivation and help young people towards futures of work that align with their values.
September 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Yesterday we were in Birmingham again with @eyfoundation.bsky.social running pilot interventions with young people from low-income backgrounds.
The Motivating Futures workshops are designed to cultivate intrinsic motivation and help young people towards futures of work that align with their values.
The Motivating Futures workshops are designed to cultivate intrinsic motivation and help young people towards futures of work that align with their values.