AI and Jobs Taskforce
AI and Jobs Taskforce Report and Evidence Summary published
The AI and Jobs Taskforce, Chaired by Baroness Martha Lane Fox and Deputy-chaired by IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas MBE, has now published a report with recommendations and supporting evidence summary for the Mayor of London, who has accepted all of the Taskforce's recommendations.
Here are the recommendations the Mayor of London will be taking forward:
- Act early - Create a London AI Early Action System to spot emerging labour-market change before it becomes a crisis. This would combine labour market data, employer insight and local evidence into one early-warning system, so London can spot AI-driven change while there's still time to act on it, rather that when it is too late.
- Shape change - Launch a London AI at Work Partnership so employers, workers and educators redesign work together—not simply automate existing jobs. The Partnership should drive job redesign, workforce planning and skills development, so people and AI create more value together.
- Create opportunity - Launch London Future Ready Guarantee, bringing employers and young Londoners together to solve real business challenges and co-design the new jobs, skills and career pathways that AI will create. This will have a particular focus on building human skills which are equally important as technical skills, judgement, communication, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving.
With IFOW, the Taskforce conducted the largest report into the impact of AI on employment in London, drawing on innovative socio-technical research gathered by IFOW academics.
As part of this research gathered on behalf of the Taskforce, IFOW would like to express our warmest gratitude to the academic members of our Advisory Groups:
Creative Industries Advisory Group:
Professor Gina Neff (Co-Chair) (Queen Mary University of London; Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge)
Professor Aoife Monks (Queen Mary University of London)
Dr Clementine Collett (University of Cambridge)
Professor David Leslie (Queen Mary University of London)
Professor Jonathan Sapsed (University of Newcastle)
Dr Josh Siepel (University of Sussex)
Professor Kate Elswit (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama)
Professor Mark Banks (University of Glasgow)
Dr Nessa Keddo (King’s College London)
Professor Noam Shemtov (Queen Mary University of London)
Dr Oonagh Murphy (Goldsmiths University)
Dr Ozum Demir-Caliskan (Imperial)
Dr Tamsyn Dent (King’s College London)
Dr Wai-Fai Leung (King’s College London)
Transport Advisory Group:
Professor Jack Stilgoe (Co-Chair) (University College London)
Dr Andrew Smith (University of Leeds)
Dr Charlotte Unruh (University of Southampton)
Dr Jamie Woodcock (University Essex)
Dr Karen Gregory (University of Edinburgh)
Professor Kirsty Newsome (University of Sheffield)
Klara Skrivankova (Trust for London)
Professor Liam Campling (Queen Mary University of London)
Professor Michael Lewis (University of Bristol)
Professor Natasha Meret (University of Leeds)
Professor Panagiotis Angeloudis (Imperial)
Dr Reuben Binns (University of Oxford)
Professional, Legal, and Financial Services Advisory Group:
Professor Damian Grimshaw (Co-Chair) (King’s College London)
Dr Vasileios Karountzos (Co-Chair) (University of Manchester)
Alex Radelscu (Financial Services Professional)
Professor Crawford Spence (King’s College London)
Emma Wilkinson (Trust for London)
Graeme Burns (AI West)
Hajin Shim (Financial Conduct Authority)
Professor James Faulconbridge (Lancaster University)
Jonathan Hall (Bank of England)
This is in addition to our deepest thanks to our Programme Advisors, Survey and Labour Market Analysis Research Teams, and all organisations who took part in this research.
What the Taskforce set out to do
AI is already beginning to reshape work across London. The Mayor has been clear that the capital needs to be at the forefront of harnessing the potential of AI to ensure it benefits society, rather than letting it work against us.
The Taskforce was established to build a clear, evidence-based picture of how AI is changing work in London so that the Mayor could act on clear evidence and in genuine partnership. London has navigated technological change before. The ambition was to ensure this transition strengthens, rather than undermines, the promise that hard work leads to opportunity.
IFOW's role as an independent research organisation has been to undertake analysis and engagement aligned with the AI and Jobs programme. Its role was to contribute evidence and structured insight that informs GLA-led work and supports Taskforce deliberation.
Operating in an advisory capacity, the Taskforce applied independent expertise and judgement to provide recommendations to the Mayor. It brought together experience from business, trade unions and the AI industry. We are delighted that our Founding Director, Anna Thomas MBE, served as the Taskforce's Deputy Chair.
Its work aimed to include:
- examining how AI is already beginning to reshape work in London
- identifying the most significant near‑term risks and opportunities for Londoners and employers
- considering how work is changing now, who is being left behind, and what immediate interventions would make a difference
- advising on practical actions to strengthen skills, protect pathways into work and support broad‑based growth.
The Taskforce was then instructed to recommend action to support Londoners to acquire the skills they will need for the future and advise on how London can seize the opportunities of AI to boost productivity and create new, high-quality jobs.
Chair of the Taskforce - Baroness Martha Lane‑Fox
The Taskforce is chaired by Baroness Martha Lane‑Fox, a pioneering technology entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of technological change for more than two decades.
Baroness Lane‑Fox is best known for co‑founding lastminute.com in 1998. She is a former UK Digital Champion and helped create GOV.UK. She is also a champion of ethical and inclusive approaches to AI, highlighting how AI can expand digital capability and arguing that access must include the skills to build and adapt emerging technologies.
She is a long‑standing advocate for diversity in tech and has consistently called for under‑represented groups to help shape future AI policy and development.
Taskforce members
The Mayor also confirmed the following members of the London AI and Jobs Taskforce:
Anna Thomas MBE (Deputy Chair) – Co‑founder of the Institute for the Future of Work, which works to ensure AI and technological change improve work for everyone.
Professor John Amaechi OBE – Organisational psychologist, founder of APS Intelligence Ltd and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, advising organisations on workforce capability and adaptation to change.
Angie Ma – London‑based entrepreneur and physicist who co‑founded Faculty AI, a prominent European AI company.
Adam Cantwell‑Corn – Tech policy lead at the Trade Union Congress, working to ensure AI and new technologies benefit workers and society.
Sara Gorton – Regional Secretary of UNISON, leading the union's work to defend and improve jobs, pay and services in London.
Caroline Al‑Bayerty – Chamberlain and Chief Financial Officer of the City of London Corporation, overseeing financial management and digital and technology services.
Gaia Marcus – Director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, which works to ensure the benefits of data and AI are justly and equally distributed and enhance individual and social wellbeing.
