Abstract Book of the 17th International Conference on Management, Economics and Humanities
Year: 2026
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Will Robots Take Our Jobs? The Impact of Unemployment in The UK: A Progressive Looking ApproachI
yanu Olatunbosun
ABSTRACT:
Artificial intelligence is transforming modern development. There are daily innovations in this advancing field. AI now influences every sector and aspect of human life. It supports education, healthcare, industry, and other activities. Its use makes processes quicker and more seamless. The increased efficiency and precision of AI have raised concerns. The concerns focus on AI’s development and its adoption in the workplace. For years, people have feared that machines might replace human labour. This fear has grown with AI’s increasing integration at work. Our paper addresses this issue. It examines the role of AI in the UK unemployment situation. The primary objective is to determine whether AI will displace human workers in the workforce. Empirical results using the generalised method of moments reveal a key insight. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has no statistically significant short-term effect on unemployment. The impact of AI on the UK labour market is not yet apparent in unemployment figures. However, it is causing notable disruption and polarisation in certain sectors. The study recommends focusing on targeted investments in re-skilling and up-skilling. Workers in high-risk sectors, such as finance, communication, and routine clerical jobs, require support. With this support, they can transition into high-skill, AI-enhanced roles. The primary policy should be extensive, targeted re-skilling.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Unemployment Dynamics; Job Polarisation; Economic Growth; United Kingdom