As many as three million jobs could disappear over the next decade as artificial intelligence and automation accelerate across workplaces, the National Foundation for Educational Research has warned in a new report.
The study said labour-market changes linked to AI are unfolding up to three times faster than previously projected, putting roles in administration, secretarial work, customer service and machine operation at particular risk. The Guardian reported that the researchers classified these as “high-risk declining occupations” that face substantial disruption.
The foundation cautioned that the threat extends beyond current workers. Young people leaving education without strong qualifications or broader cognitive skills could struggle to access the high-skilled growth sectors where most new roles are likely to emerge. According to the report, employment growth to 2035 is expected to centre on professional and associate professional categories such as science, engineering and legal services.
Researchers highlighted a set of “essential employment skills” they say will become even more important across the economy as AI reshapes tasks. These include collaboration, communication, creative thinking, information literacy, problem solving, decision making and the ability to plan and prioritise.
Jude Hillary, one of the report’s authors, described the shift as a “critical challenge” requiring a coordinated national response. He said government, employers and the education system must “strengthen pathways into growing jobs” and expand support for retraining, warning of a “lose-lose scenario” in which shortages in high-skill roles constrain growth while low-skill workers face shrinking opportunities.
The concern contrasts with recent corporate commentary. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Microsoft sees sales and communication roles among those most exposed to AI, while Accenture, IBM and Amazon have all cut staff as they expand teams focused on AI development and automation. Some companies, such as IBM, have emphasised that AI adoption has created new roles even as others are phased out.
The NFER said schools, employers and policymakers should treat the essential skills as core competencies, embedding them in curricula, hiring and training programmes to help workers avoid becoming trapped in declining occupations.
The findings underscore the urgency of preparing workers for rapid technological change as AI tools reshape tasks across the labour market. With automation advancing and skills shortages persisting, the next decade could test whether the UK can adapt quickly enough to capture the productivity benefits of AI while minimising social and economic disruption.