About the review

Automation technologies are transforming work, society and our economy fast, akin to an Industrial Revolution. Evidence shows that the adoption of technology associated with automation has accelerated through the pandemic; the impact of technological disruption is unevenly distributed and that the COVID-19 recession exacts a disproportionate impact on demographic groups in lower pay jobs.  

The Review is a £1.8m collaboration between the Institute for the Future of Work and a leading interdisciplinary team, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Researching the implications of automation technologies, along with Covid-19 and Brexit, and examining how they are transforming work, society and the economy in the UK.

 
 
 

“Our ground-breaking inquiry will examine the impacts of automation on the labour market, who is benefiting and who is being hit hardest by the disruption caused. We will examine which jobs will be displaced, where and how the displaced workers could be reemployed, how inequalities will develop and which communities will need policy support to adapt to these changes.”

— Sir Christopher Pissarides, Nobel Laurate and Co-Chair of the Institute for the Future of Work

 

Building on the theory of labour market frictions, the Review will use a multi-disciplinary approach to understand how and to what extent workers are exposed to ‘frictions’ related to their skills, their location and information about work. 

 Throughout the project, our deployment of design thinking techniques will enable us to seek out and listen to diverse voices and perspectives. 

“Our research will shine a light on how this transformation has and will impact different communities and groups of workers from different backgrounds. The Pissarides Review will be focused on building a strong evidence base and creating a roadmap for the UK to promote worker-focused, human-centred automation.”

— Anna Thomas, Director, Institute for the Future of Work

Key activities of the project will include:

  • The first national Disruption Index to map and track technological disruption across the UK

  • A firm-level survey to explore the motives, barriers and effects of introducing automation technologies

  • A deep dive into work challenges and opportunities into eight locations in England, Wales and Scotland

The research will culminate in the establishment of influential nationwide dissemination networks for “future of work” research and policy, and the creation of fora for collaboration between business, unions, academics, workers, and policy makers.

 
 
 

The Approach of the Pissarides Review

The Review is led by Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides with a leading interdisciplinary team of academics and policy experts.

The project has 5 main aims:

  • Understand the history and trajectories of technological transformation across the UK.

  • Understand the factors that influence the nature and pace of the adoption of technologies post Covid-19.

  • Understand the impacts of technological transformation on work and wellbeing across the UK.

  • Analyse the comparative outcomes for groups in labour markets with different levels of risk.

  • Design new policies and strategies to address disadvantages and ameliorate risks.

Throughout the three-year project, the project team will publish reports, briefing notes and explainers. There will be a series of public events including two major conferences. The project will culminate in a book-length final report.

The Review will encompass the following interlinked research themes:

  1. Labour markets 

  2. Firms (meaning HR decisions, management decisions etc)

  3. Health and wellbeing (meaning mental health, happiness etc)

  4. Inequalities (meaning gender differences, race etc etc) 

  5. Skills

  6. Information (meaning the different levels of information available to ppl about new technology coming in, or skills that new jobs need, which might make it easier or harder for them to adapt or get a new job… I have tried to think of a better word for this but landed here!)

  7. Places (meaning differences across the country etc)

  8. Sustainability (meaning green economy, net zero etc)

  9. Identity (meaning the fact that some people feel “outsiders” in new world of work, therefore it might affect voting behaviour etc etc)

  10. Good work (meaning job quality, sufficient pay etc)

 

Project Team

The Review is led by Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides with a leading interdisciplinary team of academics and policy experts.

  • FOUNDER

  • DESIGN DIRECTOR

  • SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR

  • SALES MANAGER

  • MARKETING DIRECTOR

  • CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

 

The Review will also be overseen by a separate advisory group, who will meet to discuss the workstream and outputs of the project. Its membership will be:

  1. Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics, LSE and Co-Founder and Co-Chair, The Institute for the Future of Work, (Chair).

  2. Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy.

  3. Kate Bell, Head of Rights, International, Social and Economics, the TUC. 

  4. Mark Franks, Director for Welfare grants and economist at the Nuffield Foundation.

  5. Professor Henry Overman, London School of Economics, Director What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth.

  6. Professor John van Reenen, OBE, London School of Economics.

  7. Professor Lilian Edwards, Professor of Law, Innovation & Society, Newcastle University.

  8. Professor Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice at London Business School.

  9. Professor Philip McCann, Chair in Urban and Regional Economics, Sheffield University

  10. Mohammad Chowdhury, Partner at PwC Strategy & Australia.

  11. Jon Hall, External member of the Financial Policy Committee, Bank of England.

  12. Jude Hillary, Head of the Policy and Practice Research Development team, National Foundation for Education Research.

  13. Dr Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive, The Health Foundation.

  14. Isabel Berwick, Editor, Work & Careers, Financial Times. 

  15. Anna Leach, Deputy Chief Economist, CBI