Digital technologies are rapidly transforming UK workplaces, but we know surprisingly little about who benefits and who loses from this change. While some workers see their productivity enhanced by new technologies, others face displacement as machines take over routine tasks. This research investigates how digital technology adoption by firms affects workers' wages and career prospects, with particular attention to whether institutional arrangements like employee voice can shape more equitable outcomes.
The project addresses a critical puzzle: UK employers report severe skills shortages while graduate unemployment remains stubbornly high, and productivity growth has stagnated despite massive technology investment. This suggests the distributional consequences of technology matter as much as aggregate effects. Using matched data linking detailed employer surveys on technology adoption to individual workers' wage records, I will track how workers in different occupations fare as their employers adopt AI, robotics, and advanced digital tools.
The research tests whether workers performing routine, codifiable tasks experience wage penalties when their employers automate. Crucially, it examines whether UK institutional features particularly employee consultation practices can moderate these effects. By analyzing how technology impacts different groups by skill level, gender, and ethnicity across manufacturing, services, and professional sectors, the research will identify which workers are most vulnerable and what workplace practices support successful transitions.
Findings will inform skills policy, regional development strategies, and debates about workplace technology governance. As digital transformation accelerates post-pandemic, evidence on how to distribute the gains more equitably is essential for inclusive economic growth and effective levelling-up policies.