IER News & blogs

Research undertaken by IER's Peter Dickinson with colleagues in the University of Warwick's School of Life Sciences, and funded by The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), features in a special land-based skills bulletin published by the Edge Foundation.

The bulletin summarises the report's findings into the impact of new technology on jobs and skills in agriculture and horticulture, and what responses are required.

IER's Dr Jamelia Harris and her collaborator, Dr Dexnell Peters of the University of the West Indies, participated in the 6th Biennial Richard Robinson Business History Workshop at the Portland State University.

Dr Harris and Dr Peters presented a paper which traces the organisation of business ownership to the colonial period. The paper argues that legacies embedded in legislation, institutions and culture since 1800 still shape who becomes a business owner, and to some extent, the sectors in which they operate.

IER's Peter DickinsonLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window gave a presentation at the Career Development Institute (CDI)'s AI in Careers Lightning ConferenceLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window on the impact of AI on green jobs.

Drawing on research projects funded by York City Council, Skills Development Scotland and The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, the presentation covered 'what is a green job?' and how many there are, as well as the nature of AI in farming, and its expected impact on jobs and skills.

The UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC) offers the most detailed, data-driven picture yet of the UK labour market. It is an innovative new tool that will make it much easier to match people to job opportunities and target skills investment where it matters most.

Created by the IER and the University of Sheffield, in partnership with Omnifolio on behalf of Skills England, the SSC is a standardised set of categories that identify the skills, knowledge and tasks required across UK occupations. The SSC is available through the UK Skills Explorer Digital tool.

IER’s Dr Sangwoo Lee recently shared insights at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2026 conference in Los Angeles and at the Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE) 2026 conference in Oxford, challenging traditional views on the value of a university degree.

His research, "Beyond Earnings: The Multidimensional Job Quality Premiums for University Graduates in Europe," explores whether higher education truly delivers better working conditions across non-monetary dimensions.