IER estimates the impact of new technology on jobs and skills in agriculture
Historically, technology has been a driver for more jobs, rather than fewer, and research from the University of Warwick suggests this may continue to be the case as agriculture and horticulture continue to evolve. However, it's clear that regardless of the net impact on the number of jobs in farming and growing moving forward, the skills that the workforce uses will need to change. Read MoreLink opens in a new window
According to the research, there are six key technology areas which are already driving change in the industry: autonomous robots, biological pest controls, carbon and green technologies, remote sensing, big data analytics, and precision breeding. While these innovations are already present, the study shows they will play a growing part in the evolution of agriculture and horticulture.
Working Futures: Five decades of trying to anticipate changing skills needs
In IER’s latest contribution to the Skills England Research Seminar Series, in June, Professor Rob Wilson presented ‘Working Futures: Five Decades of Trying to Anticipate Changing Skills Needs.’ In 2025, IER will have been engaged in skills forecasting for 50 years. The presentation reflected on the rationale for producing detailed, quantitative labour market projections and why they are still needed. It drew on five decades of research, focusing on the UK, but also covering work at an international level, including Europe and the USA. Read MoreLink opens in a new window Working Futures is the badge that has been used to describe the IER’s labour market projections since 2004. The most recent forecasts have been published as part of the Nuffield-funded Skills Imperative 2035 project. Professor Rob Wilson has led IER’s work on labour market forecasting since the 1980s, pioneering the development of pan-European skill projections funded by Cedefop (the European agency responsible for vocational education and training), and acted as a consultant on such issues for other international organisations such as the ILO, UNESCO and the ETF.
Monitoring the skills supply side of the green transition
IER, along with Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), is developing a methodology that keeps track of whether training provision is addressing the skills requirements of the green transition. IER developed tools to monitor the demand for green skills and jobs through the analysis of online job adverts. IER is developing a similar approach to assess changes in the supply side as well. Read MoreLink opens in a new window Working with WMG on a project focusing on the skills and jobs needs of EV battery manufacture in the West Midlands, the study found that no new provision is available to meet the jobs and skills needs that this will create. The approach can be applied to any sector or across the broad range of green skills needs.
IER contributes to national debate on work and health data at the SOM conference
On 19 June, Professor Chris WarhurstLink opens in a new window of IER was invited to speak on a panel at the annual Faculty of Occupational Medicine/Society of Occupational Medicine (FOM/SOM) Conference in Brighton. The panel focused on the challenges and opportunities in improving the quality and accessibility of work and health data. Read MoreLink opens in a new window Together with other panellists, Professor Warhurst discussed the legal, ethical and practical barriers to linking existing datasets on work and health. He also emphasised the significant potential of such data integration to generate deeper insights into the relationship between employment and health outcomes. By improving data linkage, researchers and policymakers can better identify the causes of ill health at work and develop evidence-based interventions to create healthier and fairer jobs.
IER contributes to Bridges 5.0 conference on the future of work
Four colleagues from Warwick’s Institute for Employment Research (IER) attended the Bridges 5.0 “Advancing Industry 5.0” conference at the Irish College, Leuven, on 16–17 June 2025. The two-day event brought together researchers, policy makers and practitioners to explore the skills, voice and innovation challenges raised by Industry 5.0. Read MoreLink opens in a new window
Professor Chris Warhurst presented work developed as part of the Bridges 5.0 project in a talk titled “From value proposition to value creation: everything you always wanted to know about Industry 5.0 but were afraid to ask. Dr Jeisson Cardenas-Rubio chaired the session on “Identifying future skills needs,” helping steer debate on upcoming labour-market requirements. Colleagues Peter Dickinson and Gianni Anelli took part in discussions across the conference. The trip allowed the team to share recent IER findings on skills and workplace change and to strengthen links with the Bridges 5.0 network for future collaboration.
Skills2Capabilities Workshop: What can we learn from VET and skills practices across Europe?
On 18 June 2025, Professor Terence HogarthLink opens in a new window presented at a workshop exploring how vocational education and training (VET) and skills practices are shaped by national and regional ecosystems across Europe. Drawing on comparative research and case studies, the session examined effective approaches to the organisation, delivery, and collaboration within VET systems. The workshop was of particular relevance to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working in the fields of VET and skills development, offering practical insights and opportunities for comparative learning. More information is available hereLink opens in a new window.
