Warwick Institute for Employment Research - IER

How effective is AI at providing careers advice?
A new IER project will develop an evaluation framework to compare large language model careers guidance tools with human advisers. Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the research will involve FE students and advisers from colleges across the UK
Read more here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/news/

New HSE advisory group on workplace psychosocial hazards and stress

In July, IER Director Chris Warhurst was invited to join a new Health & Safety Executive Advisory Group on Psychosocial Hazard Interventions. The purpose of the group is to provide expert challenge, advice and be a sounding board for the HSE as it looks to develop policy and regulation on psychosocial hazards and work-related stress.
Read more here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/news/

📢 New Publication: Digital Platforms, Decent Work and Developing Countries
As platform work continues to expand in developing economies, Dr Jamelia Harris' latest article in Development in Practice examines how platform work fits within the decent work agenda.
Using Fairwork as a proxy for decent work, the study finds that evidence of fair working conditions is linked to factors such as economic development, regulatory quality, and labour market conditions. The research also highlights concerns that the same platform may demonstrate different standards of worker protections across countries.
The findings strengthen the case for international standards to regulate platform companies and support local capacity to effectively monitor platform work.
Read more here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/news/

Our July 2026 Newsletter is now available here:
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/news/newsletter/

How the interaction of AI and algorithmic management shapes job quality outcomes!
"The Dual Face of Workplace AI: A Typology of Digital Work Configurations and Job Quality Implications in Europe," challenges conventional narratives that technological exposure alone dictates workforce outcomes. The research maps how worker-led AI tool usage and employer-led algorithmic management collide to create deeply stratified workplace realities.
Ultimately, the analysis indicates that supply-side policy frameworks focusing solely on worker upskilling or expanding technology access have structural limitations.
Dr Lee demonstrates that without directly regulating algorithmic monitoring and control practices, expanding AI access risks simply transitioning more workers into high-intensity, highly managed configurations rather than genuinely empowering them.
Read more here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/news/ier_news/

The European Commission is keen to deliver a Quality Jobs Roadmap. Director of IER, Chris Warhurst was invited to speak at a Cedefop event in Thessaloniki in June.
Attended by European employers, trade unions and policymakers, the event focused on the skills nexus between productivity and job quality, with Chris presenting data on the link between job quality and innovation and productivity as part of building the business case for good jobs.
Read more here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/news/ier_news/

Responding to the publication of the Work and Pensions Committee report on 'Youth, education and training',
Emily Erickson, Research Fellow, Institute for Employment Research, said: "The Committee conclude that there is much we can learn from apprenticeship schemes in other countries that are effective at reducing youth unemployment. Our VET2050 programme is an ambitious programme to co-create a vision for a high‑quality vocational education and training (VET) system for England. We are weaving international experience into this process."

Red the full report here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5902/cmselect/cmworpen/180/report.html
Read more about VET2050 here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/researchthemesoverview/researchprojects/vet2050/

👉 Working Paper – The Architecture for Knowledge Translation in ‘Creating Healthy Jobs’
We have been thinking about how best to involve and engage the public in research on work and health. Here is our plan:
https://lnkd.in/drBQD-TH
and visit the project page:
https://lnkd.in/dP8FrMgu
Gill Dix Meanu BAJWA-PATEL Sophie Staniszewska

🌍🍴 A Taste of the World at IER 🍴🌍
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our International Staff Summer Lunch. From dishes inspired by Korea, China, Kurdistan, Germany and Greece to regional favourites from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Yorkshire and Coventry, it was a wonderful celebration of our diverse backgrounds and a great opportunity to come together before the summer break.
Food, culture and community—what a fantastic combination! 🌞✨

Early career workshops an ongoing success!
Lovely note in SASE | The Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics President Roberto Pedersini conference address.
Established by IER's Director Chris Warhurst these workshops have been running for 15 years and continue to inspire.

Bordeaux 2026 | SASE Annual Conferences SASE 2026 Conference in Bordeaux: July 1-4Sciences Po Bordeaux SASE 2026 ConferenceFighting Divisions: Conflict and Power in a Post Globalisation Order38th Annual SASE ConferenceIn person: 1 to 4 July 2026Virtual events: 22 to 24 June 2026Set against the backdrop of Bordeaux, renowned for its wine,....