Building a Future Ready Workforce for the AI Revolution
The future of AI relies on developing a skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce. This blog will explore how the UK can build a future-ready talent pool, from primary education through to lifelong learning. We’ll examine strategies for addressing the AI skills gap, including upskilling and reskilling the current workforce to meet the demands of an AI-driven economy.
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving landscape of work, where AI and automation are reshaping industries at unprecedented speed, a concerning pattern is emerging: those already facing disadvantage risk being left even further behind.
Work from IFOW’s Pissarides Review – a major three-year research project into the future of work and wellbeing, funded by the Nuffield Foundation – showed that the impacts of technology adoption are divergent. While new tools such as AI improve dimensions of job quality and quality of life for some, for many others their use in the workplace leads to the erosion of discretion, autonomy, dignity and pay.
For over a decade, the EY Foundation has been working with young people from low-income backgrounds who’ve grown up with fewer opportunities in life, and – recognising important interactions in their respective research - have teamed up with IFOW to address this key challenge: how can we ensure that this period of technological transformation doesn’t further entrench inequalities?
Why Intrinsic Motivation Matters in an AI Economy
Research from IFOW has shown how, as our labour markets transform, the skills most resilient to automation are increasingly human-centric: critical thinking, communication, creativity, and problem-solving. IFOW has identified 3,500 skills that are "core" and growing in importance, with mentions of "initiative and leadership" and "critical thinking" rising significantly in job advertisements since 2016.
These are precisely the capabilities that flourish when young people are intrinsically motivated—when they engage in learning and work for inherent satisfaction rather than external rewards alone.
Yet the evidence indicates a stark reality: while young children generally start with similar levels of intrinsic motivation, this erodes as they age, and this erosion is more acute for children from low-income backgrounds.
That really does matter. Nearly a quarter of young people are eligible for free school meals in the UK. Without intervention, that shows itself as a 29% attainment gap through their schooling, and on into differences in pay too.
What presents as an educational challenge is quietly building to a future of work crisis. Left unattended, our AI future will not capture the diversity and inclusion that is so vital if it is to be a just transition. It will also miss out on the incredible talent and creativity latent in so many of these young people.
Yet there is a key gap in work being done in this area.
Studies have focused on the impacts of growing up with disadvantages, and research has been done into motivation structures. IFOW’s own work has focused on technological transformation and its impact on labour markets. What we have identified is a gap at this intersection:
It is one that needs urgent attention. Around 1 in 8 young people are now ‘NEET’ – not in education, employment or training - and with automation often being rolled out in ways that diminish job quality, or even numbers of jobs available, there is a risk that these numbers will increase, adding to the growth and productivity issues that have plagued our economy.
Yet our initial work reveals that intervening on motivation can have dramatic effects. In one study, there was a 70% chance that someone who’d been through a programme on motivation would see better work outcomes than someone who had not.
How we are approaching this work
Following a comprehensive literature review, workshops have been carried out with young people from the target demographic in schools, colleges and employment support groups in Birmingham, Manchester, Cornwall, Bournemouth and Preston. The session has been designed to interrogate their ideas about the future of work, how they see technology within that, and then – through a number of written exercises and a questionnaire, surface their motivation structures.
The results of this are then being analysed, and findings shared with an expert stakeholder group, all of which is building towards the design and piloting of a school-based intervention that will shift the needle on intrinsic motivation and self-agency, and help young people begin to reflect on their own future of work.
There is a pressing need for strategies and interventions that support more equitable transitions into work, through these kind of evidence-based interventions that develop people’s capabilities and agency.
Through this partnership, EYF and IFOW have the potential to both substantially expand the evidence base on this topic in a way that has broad systemic impact, and design and test interventions that will have direct positive impact on young people.
Building Motivation That Lasts
Through the work, are looking to identify key principles for effective motivation-building interventions. Areas of interest are around creative autonomy-supportive environments, helping young people connect to meaningful goals and experiences of mastery, and supporting reflection and integration too.
Traditional career guidance often falls short by focusing solely on information provision or talking up extrinsic rewards – “these jobs pay really well”. Our emerging framework instead emphasises identity, values, and purpose - elements that help young people develop the self-agency and intrinsic motivation needed to be resilient through technological change.
Building ambition for systemic change
The goal of this partnership isn’t intervention at the individual level. The ambition is change at a system level. Through a multi-level approach, we are targeting individual outcomes, but also school-level career support and national policy frameworks to improve careers guidance based on this motivation research.
For young people from low-income backgrounds to thrive in an AI-driven economy, they need more than technical skills—they need the intrinsic motivation and self-agency to adapt, learn continuously, and shape technological futures. By addressing these foundational elements, we can ensure that the AI revolution becomes a force for greater opportunity, not deeper inequality.
If you would like to hear more about the work, and find out how you could contribute to it, please contact [email protected]
techUK - Seizing the AI Opportunity
The UK is a global leader in AI innovation, development and adoption.
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Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Tess Buckley
Tess Buckley
A digital ethicist and musician, Tess holds a MA in AI and Philosophy, specialising in ableism in biotechnologies. Their professional journey includes working as an AI Ethics Analyst with a dataset on corporate digital responsibility, followed by supporting the development of a specialised model for sustainability disclosure requests. Currently at techUK as programme manager in digital ethics and AI safety, Tess focuses on demystifying and operationalising ethics through assurance mechanisms and standards. Their primary research interests encompass AI music systems, AI fluency, and technology created by and for differently abled individuals. Their overarching goal is to apply philosophical principles to make emerging technologies both explainable and ethical.
Outside of work Tess enjoys kickboxing, ballet, crochet and jazz music.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- tessbuckley.me
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesssbuckley/
Laura Foster
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
Nimmi Patel
Nimmi Patel
Nimmi Patel is the Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity at techUK. She works on all things skills, education, and future of work policy, focusing on upskilling and retraining. Nimmi is also an Advisory Board member of Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (digit). The Centre research aims to increase understanding of how digital technologies are changing work and the implications for employers, workers, job seekers and governments.
Prior to joining the techUK team, she worked for the UK Labour Party and New Zealand Labour Party, and holds an MA in Strategic Communications at King’s College London and BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Manchester. She is currently taking part in the 2024-25 University of Bath Institute for Policy Research Policy Fellowship Programme.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07805744520
- Twitter:
- @nimmiptl
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimmi-patel1/
Audre Verseckaite
Audre Verseckaite
Audre joined techUK in July 2023 as a Policy Manager for Data. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor in the Civil Service, where she worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and at HM Treasury on designing COVID-19 support schemes and delivering the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Before that, Audre worked at a public relations consultancy, advising public and private sector clients on their communications, public relations, and government affairs strategy.
Prior to this, Audre completed an MSc in Public Policy at the Korea Development Institute and a Bachelor's in International Relations and History from SOAS, University of London. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, learning about new cultures through travel and food, and going on adventures.
Edward Emerson
Edward Emerson
Edward leads the Digital Economy programme at techUK, which includes our work on online safety, fraud, and regulation for growth initiatives.
He has prior experience working for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and has previously worked for a number of public affairs consultancies specialising in research and strategy, working with leading clients in the technology and financial services sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-emerson-009189183
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.
Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.
Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cover-kus-ba636538
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