Overview
- Governor Andrew Bailey said AI adoption is likely to displace workers on a scale comparable to the Industrial Revolution and urged investment in training and skills.
- UK unemployment reached 5.1% in the three months to October, with 85,000 more 18–24-year-olds out of work, raising concerns about the pipeline for professional careers.
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas counted nearly 55,000 U.S. job cuts in 2025 that companies attributed to AI, with Amazon, Microsoft, Salesforce and IBM among firms restructuring as they invest in the technology.
- Entry-level roles in law, accountancy, finance and administration are cited as especially vulnerable, and PwC’s leadership indicated it will hire fewer juniors as tasks are automated.
- Experts split on causation and pace: some warn layoffs may outstrip new jobs without rapid retraining, while others say firms are using AI to justify cuts tied to overhiring or broader cost pressures, and the Bank of England notes productivity benefits often take time to materialize.