Image source: Lauren Hurley No 10 Downing Street
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall has promised a “radically improved digital offer” including AI as part of a new jobs and careers service for England.
She highlighted the plan as an element of one of three major reforms in an effort to get more people into employment, outlined in the new Get Britain Working white paper.
It says that the creation of a new jobs and careers service – bringing together Jobcentres with the National Careers Service – will involve £55 million of initial funding for the testing and development of new technologies and AI to support job searches.
“We will test, trial and develop a radically improved digital offer, using the latest technologies and AI to provide up to data information on jobs, skills and other support, and to free up work coach time,” Kendall said.
The funding will support testing, design and investment in prototypes of digital tools next year to understand how best to bring the relevant services online to make them easier to access and deliver tailored support, including advice on CVs and job adverts.
Existing shortcomings
The white paper says that Jobcentre Plus has not fully harnessed the benefits of digital technology, despite having a range of digital products, as its core is still focused on weekly or fortnightly face-to-face coach appointments.
In response, the Department for Work and Pensions is aiming to enabled people to access support through channels that best suit their needs.
The paper cites the example of the DWP ASK tool, which supports work coaches with a generative AI question and response capability to help them find the right policy and guidance information for their customers. It says that developing other tools will provide foundational data for further transforming the service.
It also refers to the use of real time language translation and integrated digital solutions to help customers in new innovation hubs.
“All of these changes are designed to direct people to the services they require more quickly and efficiently and improve the quality of the service they receive,” it says.
Youth guarantee
The other major reforms in the white paper are to establish a new youth guarantee, led at a local level to ensure all 18-21-year-olds have access to education, training and employment opportunities; and joining up health and employment support to reduce the number of people out of work due to poor health. These will involve the devolution of funding.
The Government is also setting up an independent Keep Britain Working review of economic inactivity related to health and planning to publish a green paper on proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system.
