DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 14 May 2020 Closed: 2 Feb 2022 Parliament page
This inquiry looked at how prepared the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its Jobcentre Plus network is for changes in the world of work brought about by new technology. It focussed on: The challenges the DWP faces as a result of technological change How prepared the DWP is … Read more
14 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
1 Letter
6 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
12 Nov
2021
Report published
29 Jun
2021
Report published
22 Jun
2021
Correspondence
11 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
11 Feb
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
13 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
13 Jan
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
25 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
25 Nov
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
11 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
11 Nov
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
4 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
11 Feb 2021
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DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work
John Paul Marks · Department for Work and Pensions Jonathan Mills · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Mims Davies MP · Department for Work and Pensions
13 Jan 2021
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Work and Pensions Committee
Antony Walker · techUK Dr George Zarkadakis · Willis Towers Watson Tamara Hill · British Retail Consortium Tebessum Rashid · Black Training and Enterprise Group Verity Davidge · Make UK
25 Nov 2020
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DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work
Carys Roberts · Institute for Public Policy Research Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson · UK Women's Budget Group Hector Minto · Microsoft James Taylor · Scope Julia Waltham · Working Families Kim Chaplain · Centre for Ageing Better
11 Nov 2020
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DWP’s preparations for the world of work–Universal Basic income
Anthony Painter Dr Malcolm Torry · University of Bath Edward Davies · Centre for Social Justice Paul Vaughan · Fife Council Professor Nick Pearce
4 Nov 2020
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DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work
Anna Thomas · Institute for the Future of Work Associate Professor Jo Ingold · Deakin University, Faculty of Business and Law Ian Pope · Public and Commercial Services Union Jonathan Boys · Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Kate Bell · Trades Union Congress Professor Alan Felstead · Cardiff University School of Social Sciences
23 Sep 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Ashley McCaul · ThinkForward Ben Marson · The Prince's Trust Joe Fitzsimons · Institute of Directors Laura-Jane Rawlings · Youth Employment UK Sam Windett · Impetus Torsten Bell · Resolution Foundation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of wo… HC 216 29 Jun 2021 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
25 results
1 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
While there is a broad consensus that new technology is unlikely to result in mass...
While there is a broad consensus that new technology is unlikely to result in mass unemployment, it will lead to the loss of some jobs and the creation of entirely new ones. Some sectors will experience the impact of new … Read more
Government Response
DWP is working with other departments, particularly DfE and BEIS, on labour market issues to develop joined-up policy solutions. The effects of businesses’ growing adoption of technology are discussed alongside … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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2 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We heard evidence that DWP has not been proactive enough in planning for long- term...
We heard evidence that DWP has not been proactive enough in planning for long- term changes to the world of work, and that it has largely reacted to change instead of planning ahead for a range of different scenarios or … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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3 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
New technology has the potential to enhance employees’ experience of work; for example, by allowing...
New technology has the potential to enhance employees’ experience of work; for example, by allowing for greater use of remote working and replacing more mundane tasks. However, there is also a risk that technology could have an adverse impact on … Read more
Government Response
DWP already works with other government departments who have responsibility for key sectors, including DCMS and BEIS. This work identifies how government can unlock opportunities in these sectors through skills … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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4 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
Responsibility for responding to changes in the world of work does not sit with one...
Responsibility for responding to changes in the world of work does not sit with one department. DWP told us that it works with other government departments to help fill roles in sectors where there is growing demand: for example, with … Read more
Government Response
The Government has set up the joint DCMS/BEIS Office for AI, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, and the independent AI Council, which advises on the adoption of new technology.
Department for Work and Pensions
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5 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We welcome the Government’s announcement that it will publish a new AI Strategy later this...
We welcome the Government’s announcement that it will publish a new AI Strategy later this year that will focus on economic growth through widespread use of digital technologies and on developing every adult’s digital skills. DWP should work closely with … Read more
Government Response
The Government has set up the joint DCMS/BEIS Office for AI, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, and the independent AI Council, which advises on the adoption of new technology.
Department for Work and Pensions
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6 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
The Government has committed to introducing an Employment Bill in this Parliament which will “build...
The Government has committed to introducing an Employment Bill in this Parliament which will “build on existing employment law with measures that protect those in low-paid work and the gig economy”. In our earlier report on DWP’s response to the … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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7 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We have heard concerns that there is a lack of real-time data on how quickly...
We have heard concerns that there is a lack of real-time data on how quickly employers in the UK are adopting new technology. If DWP is to respond effectively to changes in the world of work, it needs a stronger … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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8 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
As change leads to the emergence of new jobs and changes to existing ones, the...
As change leads to the emergence of new jobs and changes to existing ones, the Government must ensure that it is monitoring the impact of change on the quality of jobs, not just the quantity. Studies such as the Skills … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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9 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
New technology, especially assistive technology (AT), has the potential to expand disabled people’s access to...
New technology, especially assistive technology (AT), has the potential to expand disabled people’s access to the labour market. However, take-up and knowledge of AT is still low. DWP should do more to improve knowledge and take-up of assistive technology amongst … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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10 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
DWP must ensure that its digital skills offer is accessible and inclusive for disabled people.
DWP must ensure that its digital skills offer is accessible and inclusive for disabled people. It should set out how it intends to increase the proportion of disabled people who benefit from its support and commit to publishing data on this.
Department for Work and Pensions
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11 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
Changes in the world of work will affect some groups of people more significantly than...
Changes in the world of work will affect some groups of people more significantly than others. We heard that automation has the potential to exacerbate existing inequalities—but that does not have to be the case.
Government Response
Data from the ONS shows that, among organisations for whom remote working is possible, most businesses and individuals expect to move to ‘hybrid’ working models on a more a permanent … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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12 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
The employment gap between White and BAME workers remains too high, despite the Government’s intent...
The employment gap between White and BAME workers remains too high, despite the Government’s intent to reduce it. There is a risk that the gap will widen if, as some predict, automation affects some ethnic groups more significantly than others. … Read more
Government Response
As part of the evaluation of the Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme, BEIS commissioned large scale, representative surveys of employers and parents. The surveys sought views on a broad … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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13 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We recommend that, as part of its commitment to levelling up, the Government should establish...
We recommend that, as part of its commitment to levelling up, the Government should establish a new publicly funded advisory body of experts with a focus on the potential impact of changes in the world of work on different groups … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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14 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
The pandemic has accelerated the take up of new technology in the workplace, and it...
The pandemic has accelerated the take up of new technology in the workplace, and it has led to a growth in remote working. It is likely that some of the changes to working patterns and practices will remain in place … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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15 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
The shift to remote working has had significant ramifications for people with caring responsibilities.
The shift to remote working has had significant ramifications for people with caring responsibilities. We heard evidence that the number of men undertaking DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work 51 unpaid childcare has increased during the pandemic. … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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16 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
Unemployment has risen because of the pandemic, but some sectors have been hit harder than...
Unemployment has risen because of the pandemic, but some sectors have been hit harder than others. Sectors which have seen the highest proportion of job losses are those that have been “shut down” in response to the pandemic, such as … Read more
Government Response
DWP already works closely with local authorities, other local stakeholders and other government departments through the Work and Health Services network. DWP also engages centrally with Mayoral Combined Authorities, local … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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17 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
The Department will, however, be limited by longstanding deficiencies in the collection and storage of...
The Department will, however, be limited by longstanding deficiencies in the collection and storage of data about Universal Credit claimants. The Department has told us that it does not have the mechanisms within the Universal Credit system to collect real … Read more
Government Response
DWP understands why the committee thinks this would be helpful but does not have any plans to introduce markers on the Universal Credit (UC) system. Instead we are exploring ways … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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18 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We reiterate our recommendation, first made in October 2020, that the Department should immediately make...
We reiterate our recommendation, first made in October 2020, that the Department should immediately make improvements to the Universal Credit system to enable it to record and use data about claimants’ characteristics. Without those improvements, the Department cannot effectively measure … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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19 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We welcome the steps that DWP has already taken to ensure that jobseekers can develop...
We welcome the steps that DWP has already taken to ensure that jobseekers can develop the skills they need in a changing jobs market. We were encouraged by the Minister’s comments that DWP is working with the Department for Education … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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20 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
In written evidence, DWP said that it intends to expand its skills offer.
In written evidence, DWP said that it intends to expand its skills offer. In response to this report, it should set out its plans in detail. In particular, it should explain how its offer will focus on the skills for … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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21 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
DWP should set out a plan for how Jobcentre Plus can work more closely with...
DWP should set out a plan for how Jobcentre Plus can work more closely with partners—including local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, employers and education and training providers—to ensure that its skills offer is aligned with the needs of the local … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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22 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
It is essential that Work Coaches have a detailed understanding of the local labour market.
It is essential that Work Coaches have a detailed understanding of the local labour market. Business engagement is a key route to understanding the changing jobs market and the nature of skills that employers are looking for. We heard evidence, … Read more
Government Response
Work Coaches are supported by Jobcentre Plus Employer and Partnership Managers, and Employer Advisers who engage professionally, co-ordinating and building external relationships with employers in the local area. They work … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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23 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
We welcome the fact that DWP has recruited 13,500 additional Work Coaches in response to...
We welcome the fact that DWP has recruited 13,500 additional Work Coaches in response to the pandemic. DWP should continue to assess whether the number of Work Coaches is sufficient, and commit to recruiting more in the future if demand … Read more
Government Response
We have recently increased the number of Disability Employment Advisers and we regularly review the number and the functions of the role to ensure we have capacity to deliver the … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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24 Conclusion
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
As well as impacting the labour market, the adoption of new technology is likely to...
As well as impacting the labour market, the adoption of new technology is likely to affect the way DWP delivers its services. As DWP moves more of its services online, it must ensure that people with low digital literacy, who … Read more
Government Response
Throughout the pandemic, Jobcentres have remained open for anyone who needed face-to-face support and could not be helped in any other way. Since 12 April 2021, Jobcentres in England and … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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25 Recommendation
First Report - DWP’s preparations …
The evidence we have heard suggests that changes such as automation are unlikely to lead...
The evidence we have heard suggests that changes such as automation are unlikely to lead to mass unemployment. That does not mean that there will be no displacement at all, especially as job roles and requirements change, and it is … Read more
Department for Work and Pensions
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Correspondence 1 letter
22 Jun 2021 Correspondence with Secretary of State for DWP about the Restart scheme
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