Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on graduate job opportunities.

This Government is committed to growth, and a key pillar of this is ensuring that everyone, including graduates, have access to good, meaningful work.

As part of our ongoing assessment of labour market trends, we note that job vacancies have declined from 1.3 million in 2022 to 726,000 as the economy continues to adjust post‑pandemic. While some have suggested that increased adoption of AI may be contributing to this fall, current evidence is mixed and does not yet establish a clear causal link. Most forecasters continue to project that artificial intelligence will lead to a net increase in employment overall, though its impacts will vary across industries and occupations.

To ensure graduates and the wider workforce can benefit from these opportunities, the Government has established the AI and Future of Work Unit to monitor emerging trends and coordinate policy responses across departments. We are investing in practical AI skills training for adults and expanding partnerships to upskill 10 million workers. Our Youth Guarantee is working to ensure that all young people have access to education, training or help to find a job or apprenticeship, including graduates, and backed by an addition £820 million at the autumn budget.