Asked by: Baroness Moyo (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to conduct an assessment of the impact of artificial intelligence on the UK workforce, and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We want to ensure that people have access to good, meaningful work. Changes to the labour market are to be expected and we remain mindful of them and their effect on the UK workforce.
The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out how we will address key labour market challenges and spread opportunity in order to fix the foundations of our economy so we can make the most of the opportunities AI presents. This includes launching Skills England to create a shared national plan to boost the nation’s skills, creating more good jobs through our modern Industrial Strategy, and strengthening employment rights through our Plan to Make Work Pay.
We also recognise the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on economic growth, job creation and productivity. We are working across government to understand the challenges and opportunities that AI presents and will continue to monitor this rapidly developing area.
Asked by: Baroness Moyo (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic and societal risks of generative AI, including a potential increase in unemployment as a result of automation of work, the prospect of increased need for public support to individuals and welfare payments.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
DWP is aware that the increased use of Artificial Intelligence may impact the labour market, affecting the nature and types of jobs available to workers in different sectors and regions in a way that is difficult to accurately forecast.
The UK labour market is fluid and dynamic, and an average of 900,000 employed people per quarter moved from one job to another over the last year. As yet, we have yet to see any evidence of significant job displacement that can be directly attributed to AI.
However, we are mindful of the potential risk of job displacement and our Jobcentre offer is designed to support claimants who need to transition to new roles by providing them with tailored, flexible advice.