The automation of tasks and jobs by new technologies is one of the most significant forces shaping the global economy, in ways comparable to the Industrial Revolution. Yet, despite considerable research on technological transformation, little is known about how technology, and particularly automation, is disrupting UK labour markets and what the impacts of this are on people and society.

This knowledge gap is largely a product of a lack of quality and systematically collected data on technology use and adoption by UK businesses, meaning that there is no record of the amount of automation that has occurred at a sufficiently granular level to be useful for policy makers and economic strategists.

The Pissarides Review will enable a better understanding of the nature and trajectory of technological disruption on the UK labour market and aims to look forward to how to ensure the transition of the labour market serves to build a future of better work across the country.