Analysing the distribution of capabilities in the UK workforce amidst technological change

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, understanding how workers adapt is more important than ever. For the first time, this report explores the distribution of capabilities across the UK workforce, revealing critical disparities and highlighting opportunities to enhance worker resilience and wellbeing in an evolving employment landscape.

Commissioned as part of the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing – funded by the Nuffield Foundation – the report uses survey data from over 5,000 employees, to evaluate capabilities such as stability, autonomy, attachment, and achievement, applying the ICECAP-A framework to provide a nuanced understanding of worker experiences.  

The report uncovers significant disparities in capability levels, highlighting inequalities across age, ethnicity, and education. It finds that workers exposed to advanced technologies like AI and robotics face disruptions to traditional capability dynamics, emphasising the critical role of institutional frameworks and supportive HR practices in promoting resilience and equity.

A key finding highlights the positive impact of institutional support—such as HR practices, unions, and workplace policies—on employees’ capabilities, offering a vital avenue for resilience amid rapid technological disruption. These support mechanisms were consistently associated with better outcomes, underlining their importance for an equitable future of work.  

Other important findings show the need for targeted policies to address capability gaps and ensure equitable outcomes as workplaces evolve. The report offers actionable recommendations for policymakers and businesses to design environments that empower workers in an era of rapid technological change.