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Institute for the Future of Work

@ifow.org
1.9K followers 648 following 849 posts

An independent research and development institute exploring how new technologies are transforming work and working lives. www.ifow.org Subscribe to our newsletter: www.ifow.org/newsletter

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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 08/09/2026
Our research reveals how core skills and capabilities help young people develop the critical thinking, communication and creativity needed to navigate changing labour markets, as our Associate Director Kester Brewin recently emphasised to an evidence session of the Education Select Committee:
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 17/08/2026
We're delighted that IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas MBE will be speaking at the Oxford Generative AI Summit again this year. Early bird tickets are almost gone. More details here: www.oxgensummit.org/speakers/ann...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 21/07/2026
Great to hear Baroness Martha Lane Fox on BBC World at One highlighting IFOW's research for the Mayor of London's AI and Jobs Taskforce. Responding to OECD reports that a majority of London jobs face risk, Fox drew on IFOW's Taskforce research to emphasise how AI is changing jobs, tasks and roles.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 17/06/2026
Over the past few days, we’ve been speaking to young people across Cornwall about their hopes, ambitions, and concerns for the future of work. From graduates to school-leavers, all are young people who should be embarking on pathways into good work equipped with the right skills and experience.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 29/05/2026
Nearly 1 million young people in the UK are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). IFOW Director Anna Thomas joined BBC 5Live to respond to these latest Milburn Review findings, highlighting the complex, structural challenges shaping young people's transitions from education to work.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 18/05/2026
We've heard from a range of brilliant panellists - including from Dr A-Marie I. - Co-Chair of the Women in Tech Taskforce, John Amaechi OBE, Phil Smith CBE (Head of Skills England), Kate Field from the BSI, and others - all getting into the details of how we can transform working lives for good.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 18/05/2026
Fantastic day in progress at our Making the Future Work Conference, with Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, emphasising the need for 'good work design' to be centred in AI adoption.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 28/04/2026
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 24/04/2026
Brilliant to be at the Shard this week with @cipdpolicy.bsky.social, discussing our research from @innovateuk.bsky.social BridgeAI programme - exploring how to drive positive outcomes through responsible AI adoption in the workplace.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 26/03/2026
Fantastic to have our IFOW Co-Founder Anna thomas join AI for CFO’s panel, hosted by @economist.com earlier this week.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 23/03/2026
Fantastic to attend @ufitrust.bsky.social's showcase last week as part of #WeekofVocTech, to both see and take part in impressive demonstrations from across the #VocTech community and better understand how emerging technologies are being applied to skills development, training, and access to work.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 19/03/2026
...a new blog from the government's AI Security Institute, about work on productivity that we collaborated on. Hope you enjoy reading! www.ifow.org/news-articles/march-mid-month-spotlight
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 13/03/2026
Fantastic to be at the Grimsby Port Offices yesterday, showcasing Flourish to a diverse group of careers and training professionals, community stakeholders, researchers, and local authority and green business representatives.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 10/03/2026
Building responsible AI adoption is a sociotechnical challenge - one where HR, organisational strategy, and work design form part of successful AI implementation processes. 👀 Look out for the first publication from this research, out tomorrow!
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 10/03/2026
Fantastic to be at BridgeAI's Annual Showcase yesterday, discussing our ongoing work with the @cipdpolicy.bsky.social on the crucial role of people and organisations in shaping pathways to responsible AI adoption at work.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 28/01/2026
Great to be at @bloomberg.com today to hear DSIT Secretary of State, Liz Kendall announce a new cross-government AI and the Future of Work Unit. We are particularly thrilled that our Co-Director, Dr Abby Gilbert has been invited to sit on the Unit's Expert Panel: www.ifow.org/news-article...
Liz Kendall sitting with Constantin Cotzias at Bloombery
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 28/01/2026
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 13/01/2026
It's no secret that new technologies are changing skills demands. Last week, the @financialtimes.com carried a graph reinforcing the dual importance of both mathematical and social skills - but emphasising that social skills are driving higher wage roles.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 09/01/2026
The note also uses automation archetypes to help classify AI use in the workplace, as well as considering levels of regional 'readiness' in relation to job creation and automation.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 07/01/2026
Fantastic to host an expert roundtable this morning focused on reseasrch by @clemicollett.bsky.social on the impacts of GenAI on the novel, with high-level representation from parliament, policymaking and publishing.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 10/12/2025
The panel discussed how local employees, employers, communities, and regional leaders must be empowered to shape the future of work and sustained economic growth through technological transformation.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 10/12/2025
Thanks to all who attended the APPG on the Future of Work yesterday, focused on good jobs and regional growth, with particular thanks to our panel - Lord Jim Knight, Josie Crescent-Moon, Prof @vdanat.bsky.social, Georgina Maratheftis, Eve Navias, and Prof Chris Warhurst.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 20/11/2025
Exciting to have IFOW Research Fellow Dr @clemicollett.bsky.social on BBC's Today programme this morning, discussing her new report 'The Impact of Generative AI on the Novel'. The research, co-published with IFOW, reveals wide concern among novelists on #copyright, GenAI book imitations and more.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 17/11/2025
A new report by Deel examines global policy debates on AI and the future of work, and how to create practical solutions to empower workers, companies and governments alike. On regulation, IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas MBE is quoted in the report saying this: www.deel.com/blog/ai-work...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 13/11/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 28/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 24/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 17/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 16/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 10/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 10/10/2025
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...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 09/10/2025
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?
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 09/10/2025
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?
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 08/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 06/10/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 29/09/2025
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:
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 26/09/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 24/09/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 23/09/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 22/09/2025
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'.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 19/09/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 16/09/2025
Exciting to see members of the team in #design #thinking workshops today for Flourish, our development of a new platform helping people access work opportunities in the UK green sector.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 11/09/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 09/09/2025
Great to be spending the day with many of the team focusing on #Design #Thinking and Design #Research, led superbly by Re:Shape Collective - who bring huge experience from work across Arup, social policy design and #UX.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 05/09/2025
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.
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 03/09/2025
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...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 03/09/2025
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...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 21/08/2025
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...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 05/08/2025
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...
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Institute for the Future of Work @ifow.org · 01/08/2025
'Emotional AI' and the wider problem of #Oasis ticket prices... our August newsletter is out now! www.ifow.org/news-articles/august-newsletter
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