IFOW strongly welcomes the announcement by Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, of the creation of a new, cross-government AI and the Future of Work Unit.  

We are especially pleased that our Co-Director, Dr Abby Gilbert, has been invited to be a member of the Expert Panel, which will support the Unit by providing strategic insights, supporting external collaborations, and enabling effective delivery of the Unit’s work.

The aim of the Unit will be to research and monitor AI’s economic and labour market impacts, so that timely advice on when new policies should be implemented can be provided. It will look to ensure that this period of technological transformation “boosts economic growth, supports workers to adapt, protects communities from the mistakes of past industrial change, and delivers a fair, dignified future of work for everyone, where people are supported into better jobs in a more productive economy.”

IFOW has been leading efforts in this space, and the creation of a dedicated, cross-departmental Future of Work Unit was a key recommendation of our Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing. The Final Report of the Review was launched at a major conference in January 2025 with a keynote from Sir Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, will be delivering a keynote address at IFOW’s Making the Future Work conference on 18^th May, 2026, at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in London. Sign up here to be sent further information about the event by IFOW.

Anna Thomas MBE, Founding Co-Director of IFOW said:

“We welcome the creation of a dedicated, cross-cutting unit to “boost economic growth, support workers to adapt, protect communities from the mistakes of past industrial change, and deliver a fair, dignified future of work for everyone, where people are supported into better jobs in a more productive economy”.

This announcement is strongly supported by IFOW’s Pissarides Review into Work and Wellbeing, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The Review recommended the creation of such a Unit in response to findings about the complexity and pace of technological transformation, which vary hugely and can be hidden.

Establishing a dedicated unit recognises and signifies the future of work and automation as critical policy areas that are inherently cross-cutting and involve collaboration across government, industry and civil society.

We look forward to continued work with DSIT to support the Unit's activities and development, and we’re delighted that Dr Gilbert will be sitting on the expert panel announced today.”