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We are at a critical juncture. Automation technologies are transforming work, society and the economy in the UK in ways comparable to the Industrial Revolution. The adoption of technologies associated with automation such as artificial intelligence, algorithmic systems and robotics has accelerated through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of automation is unevenly distributed with a disproportionate impact on demographic groups in lower pay jobs.
The Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing – a collaboration between the Institute for the Future of Work, Imperial College London and Warwick Business School, funded by the Nuffield Foundation – hosted this full-day conference on 25th January at the Institute of Engineering and Technology, to explore the latest perspectives from research, policy and practice on how automation technologies are transforming work, society and the economy.
A stellar line-up of speakers included:
- Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics, LSE, and Co-Founder, Institute for the Future of Work
- Professor Daron Acemoglu, MIT
- Professor Jolene Skordis, UCL
- Dr Jennifer Dixon of The Health Foundation
- Professor Erik Brynjolfsson, Stanford
- Professor Lynda Gratton, London Business School
- Anna Leach, Deputy Chief Economist, Confederation of British Industry
- Professor John Van Reenen, London School of Economics
- Nancy Hey of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing
- John Evans, Former General Secretary, Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD
- Lucy Powell MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
- Matt Warman MP (lead on the government's recent Future of Work Review)
- Kirsty Blackman MP, (Shadow Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Scottish National Party)
From Mark Franks, Director of Welfare, The Nuffield Foundation
Professor Jolene Skordis, UCL (moderator), Dr Jennifer Dixon of The Health Foundation, Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics, LSE, and Co-Founder, Institute for the Future of Work, and Nancy Hey of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, discuss how 'good work' underpins good health and would encourage the young and the over 50s back to work.
Watch Professor Lynda Gratton, LBS (moderator), Professor John Van Reenen, LSE, Professor Erik Brynjolfsson, Stanford, and Anna Leach, Deputy Chief Economist, Confederation of British Industry, discuss the uneven adoption of automation across the UK.
Robotics and AI adoption is concentrated in a few super-star cities and firms. But it's the ‘intangible capital’ that could really make a difference and ensure that technology complements humans, driving growth and better jobs.
Anna Thomas, Co-founder and Director of the Institute for the Future of Work, interviews Lucy Powell MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Manchester Central and Shadow Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Watch Naomi Climer CBE (moderator), Professor Daron Acemoglu, MIT (remote), Kirsty Blackman, MP and Shadow Spokesperson (Cabinet Office), Scottish National Party, and John Evans, Former General Secretary, Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, discuss how better policies could encourage 'good' automation and empower local communities to shape better futures of work.
Anna Thomas, Co-founder and Director of the Institute for the Future of Work, interviews Matt Warman MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Boston and Skegness and lead on the government’s recent Future of Work Review.
Isabel Berwick, Work and Careers Editor of the Financial Times speaks to Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Nobel Prize winning economist and Regius Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. Chris is the co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Work.
Explore more about the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing here.
Kester Brewin
