Which UK places are most at risk from automation?

One in five jobs in the UK could be at risk because of increasing automation and globalisation, according to a new report.

The Cities Outlook 2018 by think tank Centre for Cities claims 3.6 million jobs could be ‘displaced’ by 2030, with retail, customer service roles and warehouse jobs among those most at risk.

But the report adds nearly one in 10 jobs in the UK are in occupations predicted to grow by 2030 and the emergence of new industries will bring new jobs, which currently do not exist.

It says that all cities are likely to see an increase in jobs across both the public and private sectors, which will replace many lost to new technology.

The relatively weak economies in the north are more vulnerable to job losses, while cities in the south are at relatively less risk. In towns and cities like Mansfield, Sunderland and Wakefield, almost a third of current jobs will be at risk by 2030 because of automation and globalisation.

In Brighton and Portsmouth that figure is around 19%, and in the seaside town of Worthing and London it is around 16%.

In order to help British workers become more adapt to automation and new technologies, the report recommends the government help support the ‘development of knowledge’.

‘A key element of this will be to provide their residents with the skills they need to be successful in a labour market that is likely to be ever more dominated by non-routine work,’ the report states.

It recommends a greater emphasis on giving school leavers the ‘right set of skills and knowledge to succeed in the jobs of the future’ and more help for those currently working to help them retrain.

Chief executive of Centre for Cities, Andrew Carter, said: ‘The time to act is now – national and local leaders need to ensure that people in cities across the North and Midlands can share in the benefits these changes could offer.

‘That means reforming the education system to give young people the cognitive and interpersonal skills they need to thrive in the future, and improving school standards, especially in places where jobs are most at risk,’ added Mr Carter.

‘We also need greater investment in lifelong learning and technical education to help adults adapt to the changing labour market, and better retraining for people who lose their jobs because of these changes.

‘In an ever more divided country, it’s increasingly clear that a one-size-fits-all approach from central government is inadequate to address the myriad issues that different places face.

‘The government needs to give cities more powers and resources to tackle the issues that automation and globalisation will present, and to make the most of the benefits they will bring,’ added Mr Carter.

• Read the full report here: