Workers and technology: our hopes and fears

Our new Commission on Workers and Technology chaired by Yvette Cooper MP is launched with the publication of new evidence on British workers’ hopes and fears for automation over the next decade. The two year commission organised by the trade union Community and the Fabian Society will identify the immediate actions that government, employers and trade unions need to take to support workers as technology impacts on jobs during the next 10 years.

To coincide with the launch, the Commission on Workers and Technology commissioned YouGov to carry out an exclusive survey on workers’ expectations and views on technology change in the workplace. The survey was carried out online between 23^rd and 24^th July 2018, with a sample of 1,092 GB adults in paid work. The respondents were drawn from a broader survey of all GB adults weighted to be representative of the adult population.

Background

To ensure that respondents were thinking about the impact of technology when answering the survey, they were asked to read the following statement before answering each group of questions:

The creation of new technologies will gradually change existing job roles, automate some existing tasks in the workplace and create new job roles over the next 10 years (i.e. between now and 2028) 

1. Optimism about the future

53 per cent of workers are optimistic about their future working life and job prospects, when thinking about technology change in the next decade. Workers aged under 45 are more optimistic than older workers (18-44s, 60 per cent; 45+ 46 per cent).

Figure 1: Thinking about changes in technology in the workplace over the next 10 years (i.e. from now to 2028)… in general, I am optimistic about my future working life and job prospects

2. Impact of technology on my job

Only 29 per cent think technology will have no effect on their current job over the next 10 years. 44 per cent of workers think changes in technology will have a positive effect on their current job but 20 per cent of workers think there will be a negative effect.

Figure 2: To what extent, if at all, do you think changes in technology will have a positive effect on your current job, negative effect on your current job or do you think there will be no effect in the next 10 years (i.e. from now to 2028)?

3. Change for the worse

More people were pessimistic about the impact of technology on their job when we asked a different question. 37 per cent of workers (i.e. more than 10 million people) are worried about their job changing for the worse, when thinking about the impact of technology in the next decade. Groups who are particularly likely to be worried about their jobs changing for the worse include: 45-54 year-olds (43 per cent); public sector workers (45 per cent); people in the north of England (45 per cent).

Figure 3: Thinking about changes in technology in the workplace over the next 10 years (i.e. from now to 2028)…  I am worried about my job changing for the worse

4. Jobs disappearing

23 per cent of workers (i.e. more than 6 million people) are worried that their job may no longer be needed, when thinking about the impact of technology in the next decade. There is little difference in the percentage worried about their job not being needed, between people in ABC1 and C2DE social groups and between people working in the private and public sectors.

Figure 4: Thinking about changes in technology in the workplace over the next 10 years (i.e. from now to 2028)…  I am worried about my current job no longer being needed

5. Better quality work

40 per cent of workers agree that new technologies will lead to better working conditions and job satisfaction in the future, while 24 per cent disagree. Groups more likely to be positive about working conditions and job satisfaction improving include: men (44 per cent) and workers aged 18 to 44 (51 per cent).

Figure 5: In general, new technologies will lead to better working conditions and job satisfaction in the future

6. Confidence about adapting

A large majority of workers (73 per cent) are confident they will be able to change and update their skills if new technologies affect their current job. Only 19 per cent of workers (i.e. 5 million people) are not confident that they’ll be able to change. A slightly higher percentage of workers aged over 45 are not confident about being able to change (24 per cent).

Figure 6: How confident, if at all, are you that you’ll be able to change and update your skills if new technologies affect your current job?

7. Government action

Only 9 per cent of workers agree that the government is taking action to help them prepare for the changing world of work resulting from new technologies. 61 per cent of workers disagree. The figure is slightly higher among workers aged 18 to 44 (12 per cent) and workers who live with children (14 per cent).

Figure 7: The UK government is taking steps to help me feel prepared for the changing world of work resulting from new technologies

8. Employer action

Only 27 per cent of employees agree that that their employer is taking action to help employees feel prepared for changes in their jobs resulting from new technologies. By contrast 41 per cent disagree that their employer is taking such action.

Figure 8: My employer is taking steps that help me feel prepared for changes in my job resulting from implementation of new technologies (employees only)

9. Trade union action

Only 16 per cent of employees who have trade union(s) in their workplace agree that trade unions in their workplace are acting to ensure new technologies improve work. 38 per cent do not agree while a further 21 per cent said they don’t know.

Figure 9: Trade unions in my workplace are taking steps to help ensure that new technologies enhance and improve my working life (employees, excluding those who selected ‘not applicable – I do not have trade unions in my workplace’)