The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed six “steps” it is taking to improve JobCentres across the UK as AI raises Brit job fears. The DWP spelt out the measures to help people find work as it explained the future of JobCentres.
The matter is in the spotlight this week after the DWP was pressed to give answers on major issues around JobCentres and what they doing to help people out of work. According to the Office for National Statistics, the unemployment rate in the UK is 4.7 per cent. But there are growing concerns in many industries about the impact AI will have on work and employment.
The IMF says around 70 per cent of UK employees are in careers with tasks that AI could have the potential to perform or improve - higher than in America, where there have been a number of protests over the development of the data centres needed to power AI. A government document issued in January said: “Several analyses find that job postings have declined more sharply in occupations with higher AI exposure.” Such fears make the need for government programmes to help get people back into work where AI does cause job losses more important.
The DWP was asked:
- what steps it is taking to integrate sector-specific skills training pathways into core Jobcentre Plus support services.
- and what the government views as the future role of Jobcentres, along with how many people they expect Jobcentres to support following the extension of careers advice to all members of the public.
On Monday, November 2, the department explained what steps are being taken to help Brits looking for work and how JobCentres can play a key role as they change. DWP minister Andrew Western said there were six ‘steps’ that the department was taking. These are:
