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 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.
We support the increase to Real Living Wage rates and the uplift for workers across the country. But to call attention to better work also means considering what constitutes good work in the round - autonomy, dignity, wellbeing and equality must also come into play.
October 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM
We support the increase to Real Living Wage rates and the uplift for workers across the country. But to call attention to better work also means considering what constitutes good work in the round - autonomy, dignity, wellbeing and equality must also come into play.
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.
However, our research also showed that new technologies can enable greater autonomy and flexibility at work, improving overall wellbeing for many workers. What we know is workers must be actively engaged in processes of technology adoption to successfully manage risks and impacts.
October 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
However, our research also showed that new technologies can enable greater autonomy and flexibility at work, improving overall wellbeing for many workers. What we know is workers must be actively engaged in processes of technology adoption to successfully manage risks and impacts.
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...
But how should this newly freed-up time be used? Unmanaged, time savings do not guarantee productivity gains or improved worker wellbeing. How do we ensure that adopting new technologies does not lead to work intensification or reduced autonomy for workers?
October 9, 2025 at 12:42 PM
But how should this newly freed-up time be used? Unmanaged, time savings do not guarantee productivity gains or improved worker wellbeing. How do we ensure that adopting new technologies does not lead to work intensification or reduced autonomy for workers?
But what should this newly freed-up time used for? Unmanaged, time savings do not guarantee increased productivity and improved worker wellbeing. How do we ensure the changing pace of work does not lead to increased work intensification or reduced autonomy?
October 9, 2025 at 12:26 PM
But what should this newly freed-up time used for? Unmanaged, time savings do not guarantee increased productivity and improved worker wellbeing. How do we ensure the changing pace of work does not lead to increased work intensification or reduced autonomy?
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.
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.
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.
Prior to the US-UK tech deal announcements last week, our Co-Director @abbygkgilbert.bsky.social spoke at @cambridgetechweek.bsky.social
about the need to manage risks for UK businesses integrating Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted by US big tech into workplaces and systems.
about the need to manage risks for UK businesses integrating Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted by US big tech into workplaces and systems.
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Prior to the US-UK tech deal announcements last week, our Co-Director @abbygkgilbert.bsky.social spoke at @cambridgetechweek.bsky.social
about the need to manage risks for UK businesses integrating Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted by US big tech into workplaces and systems.
about the need to manage risks for UK businesses integrating Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted by US big tech into workplaces and systems.
Was so great to be a part of this forum on GenAI and the Novel - really excited to Dr @clemicollett.bsky.social's work published later this year.
It's a vital and urgent call for the UK to celebrate and sustain the creative industries - one of the finest jewels in our cultural and economic crown.
It's a vital and urgent call for the UK to celebrate and sustain the creative industries - one of the finest jewels in our cultural and economic crown.
September 23, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Was so great to be a part of this forum on GenAI and the Novel - really excited to Dr @clemicollett.bsky.social's work published later this year.
It's a vital and urgent call for the UK to celebrate and sustain the creative industries - one of the finest jewels in our cultural and economic crown.
It's a vital and urgent call for the UK to celebrate and sustain the creative industries - one of the finest jewels in our cultural and economic crown.
Many managers have criticised increasing workplace surveillance, citing a growing lack of trust amongst workers and invasion of their personal privacy as sources of discomfort. The CMI has warned of the unsettling long-term impacts of this 'big brother-like' technology'.
September 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Many managers have criticised increasing workplace surveillance, citing a growing lack of trust amongst workers and invasion of their personal privacy as sources of discomfort. The CMI has warned of the unsettling long-term impacts of this 'big brother-like' technology'.
So enjoying taking part in the first @digitcentre.bsky.social CoLab Forum. Co-convened with us and @futuredotnow.bsky.social, we're bringing together researchers, civil society, firms and gov to
help shape Digit's 5-year research into how the benefits of digital transformation can be shared.
help shape Digit's 5-year research into how the benefits of digital transformation can be shared.
September 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
So enjoying taking part in the first @digitcentre.bsky.social CoLab Forum. Co-convened with us and @futuredotnow.bsky.social, we're bringing together researchers, civil society, firms and gov to
help shape Digit's 5-year research into how the benefits of digital transformation can be shared.
help shape Digit's 5-year research into how the benefits of digital transformation can be shared.
Great to have our co-director Anna Thomas MBE supporting @mctd.bsky.social Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at Somerset House today, alongside @gaiamarcus.bsky.social, Director of @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social, and Matt Warman, former Digital Minister and UKAI Board Member.
September 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Great to have our co-director Anna Thomas MBE supporting @mctd.bsky.social Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at Somerset House today, alongside @gaiamarcus.bsky.social, Director of @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social, and Matt Warman, former Digital Minister and UKAI Board Member.
Last week, Lloyd's Register Foundation released a report examining the potential of new technologies to transform the health and safety of workers. New automated technologies can improve safety by warning workers of nearby hazards and dangers or improving virtual training for emergency situations.
September 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Last week, Lloyd's Register Foundation released a report examining the potential of new technologies to transform the health and safety of workers. New automated technologies can improve safety by warning workers of nearby hazards and dangers or improving virtual training for emergency situations.
Access to good work is vital for a flourishing society. Each year we publish the Good Work Monitor to track productivity and six dimensions of good work across all 203 local authorities in England Scotland, and Wales. Read the latest release here: www.ifow.org/publications...
September 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Access to good work is vital for a flourishing society. Each year we publish the Good Work Monitor to track productivity and six dimensions of good work across all 203 local authorities in England Scotland, and Wales. Read the latest release here: www.ifow.org/publications...
IFOW's work has shown that the ethos, practices and business models that have emerged in the gig economy are spreading across other sectors - making a 'Living Hours' campaign even more important. We reported on the issues within the gig economy here: www.ifow.org/publications...
September 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
IFOW's work has shown that the ethos, practices and business models that have emerged in the gig economy are spreading across other sectors - making a 'Living Hours' campaign even more important. We reported on the issues within the gig economy here: www.ifow.org/publications...
Wishing all who are getting results today the very best. The future is still to be created, and we need our young people - from all walks of life - to be central to that. We recently published some work looking at the central place of motivation to this future agency: www.ifow.org/publications...
August 21, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Wishing all who are getting results today the very best. The future is still to be created, and we need our young people - from all walks of life - to be central to that. We recently published some work looking at the central place of motivation to this future agency: www.ifow.org/publications...
In the system-level workstream of our Pissarides Review, we produced the Disruption Index. A powerful tool for policymakers, this - for the first time - mapped progress of technological transformation and 'regional innovation readiness' across England: www.ifow.org/publications...
August 5, 2025 at 9:04 AM
In the system-level workstream of our Pissarides Review, we produced the Disruption Index. A powerful tool for policymakers, this - for the first time - mapped progress of technological transformation and 'regional innovation readiness' across England: www.ifow.org/publications...
'Emotional AI' and the wider problem of #Oasis ticket prices... our August newsletter is out now!
www.ifow.org/news-articles/august-newsletter
www.ifow.org/news-articles/august-newsletter
August 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
'Emotional AI' and the wider problem of #Oasis ticket prices... our August newsletter is out now!
www.ifow.org/news-articles/august-newsletter
www.ifow.org/news-articles/august-newsletter