Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to equip young people with the skills needed to adapt to changes in the labour market arising from artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new opportunities, while also changing how young people enter work and develop their careers.

The department is equipping young people with the knowledge and skills for a changing labour market, including through reforms to the curriculum and post-16 qualifications. This includes a greater emphasis on oracy, stronger digital and media literacy, and clearer pathways into further study, training and high-quality careers. We have also announced plans for new high-quality Vocational GCSEs for 14 to 16-year-olds, supporting progression into A levels, T Levels, V levels, apprenticeships and other post-16 routes and helping ensure students have the skills for the jobs of the future. V levels and T Levels have employer-informed content and can respond to technological and labour-market change, including AI.

The Early Careers Jobs Alliance brings together government, employers, trade unions and young people to outline how entry-level work is changing and produce practical support for businesses’ entry level pathways. Skills England is working with employers and providers to identify future skills needs, while the AI Economics Institute is improving understanding of AI’s impact on jobs and skills needs.

The government is also supporting young people to develop AI and technology skills directly, including through TechFirst, our flagship programme to expand pathways into the tech sector. In addition, more than £6 billion of recent AI investment is expected to create around 8,000 UK jobs, giving young people opportunities to apply and develop these skills.