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 at the IET London: Savoy Place to explore the latest perspectives from research, policy and practice on how automation technologies are transforming work, society and the economy.
Watch the conference back in full, or session by session:
Full Conference Recording
Opening Remarks
Mark Franks, Director of Welfare, The Nuffield Foundation
Session 1 - Why wellbeing is central to the future of work
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.
Session 2 - Innovation and Investment Equality
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.
Fireside Chat with Lucy Powell MP
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.
Session 3 - Shaping the technological transition for the benefit of all
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.
Fireside Chat with Matt Warman MP
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.
Fireside Chat with Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides
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.
Programme from the day
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Welcome from Lord Jim Knight, Anna Thomas, Director of the Institute for the Future of Work, and Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics, LSE, and Co-Founder of the Institute for the Future of Work.
Opening remarks from Mark Franks, Director of Welfare at the Nuffield Foundation.
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There is a well-established relationship between work and health and wellbeing. Good work promotes health, providing a good standard of living, sense of dignity and autonomy, the opportunity to grow and flourish, along with social networks and support. Bad work can do the opposite, locking people into working poverty and reducing their sense of security, purpose, and control. This discussion will explore the relationship between labour market change and work, health and wellbeing outcomes.
Speakers:
Professor Jolene Skordis, UCL
Dr Jennifer Dixon, CEO of The Health Foundation
Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics, LSE, and Co-Founder, Institute for the Future of Work
Nancy Hey, Executive Director, What Works Centre for Wellbeing
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The adoption of automation is uneven across the UK. Capital-intensive technologies tend to be more concentrated in certain geographic areas and less integrated into local economies. To date, there appears to be less 'trickle down' of the benefits and opportunities of technology than in past industrial revolutions. How do we ensure that the benefits of innovation are more evenly distributed across the UK?
Speakers:
Professor Lynda Gratton, London Business School (moderator)
Professor John Van Rennen OBE, London School of Economics
Professor Erik Brynjolfsson, Stanford
Anna Leach, Deputy Chief Economist, Confederation of British Industry
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Anna Thomas, Institute for the Future of Work, interviews Lucy Powell, Labour MP, Shadow Secretary of State for DCMS
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The automation of tasks and jobs by new technologies is one of the most significant forces shaping the global economy. This panel will discuss the impact of automation on work, the implications in terms of impacts on firms and workers, and how policies can respond to make sure that the adoption of these new technologies shapes a future of good work for all.
Speakers:
Naomi Climer CBE, Chair & Co-Founder, Institute for the Future of Work (moderator)
Professor Daron Acemoglu, MIT Economics (remote)
Kirsty Blackman, MP and Shadow Spokesperson (Cabinet Office), Scottish National Party
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Anna Thomas, Institute for the Future of Work, interviews Matt Warman, Conservative MP, former lead for the government’s Future of Work Review
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Introduced by Lord Jim Knight, co-chair of the APPG on the Future of Work
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Isabel Berwick, Financial Times Work & Careers editor, sits down with Nobel-prize winning economist, Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides.
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A chance to network over refreshments as the conference concludes.
