We’re excited to announce the launch of a new white paper “Unlocking Britain’s Talent”.
At Adzuna, we’ve spent over a decade helping people find better, more fulfilling jobs. From launching Jobsworth in 2013 to developing ValueMyCV, Prepper, and most recently ApplyIQ and AI search, we’ve consistently integrated AI across our services to make job search smarter.
We know how powerful AI is at helping people find good work.
Read more: All the AI tools you need for a better job search
Over the past seven years, we’ve proudly supported the DWP’s award-winning Find a Job service, helping millions of people find their next role. But since that service was built, the private sector has made huge leaps forward in using AI to improve outcomes, and we want to bring that industry expertise to get Britain working and growing again.
A once-in-a-generation AI opportunity
Britain today has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to harness advances in technology and AI to drive up employment and opportunity while driving down the benefits bill. A jobs and career service with AI-powered job-matching, analytics and career guidance at its heart can give hundreds of thousands of people across every part of the country the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive.
£2.7 billion saved a year and 500,000 people into work
The research shows that the UK government could save at least £2.7 billion a year by deploying artificial intelligence and digital automation to boost employment and substantially reduce the benefits bill.
Additionally, some 500,000 more people, including young people not in education, employment, or training, could be in fulfilling jobs by the next general election with the adoption of proven AI tools used in the private sector, giving jobseekers an in-your-pocket digital service for personalised career planning and tailored job matching.
The new service would also improve efficiencies and outcomes across the Department for Work and Pensions, offering those seeking work a more human touch that cannot be achieved with the current ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Potential welfare savings and tax revenue based on individuals earning £23,810 per annum. For methodology, see the “Unlocking Britain’s Talent” white paper.
A public-private partnership is the best answer
The technology already exists in Britain’s private sector and is ready to deploy. AI delivers better job matches; predictive analytics improve outcomes; career guidance on your mobile is 24/7. This isn’t theoretical – it’s working today for millions of jobseekers and thousands of employers in the UK private sector and overseas.
A range of British startups, such as Beamery, Willo, Beam, Jack & Jill, and Adzuna, are using AI to improve efficiency and tackle challenges. Take Adzuna as an example, our latest AI tools are delivering a 20% improvement in jobseeker outcomes across Britain.
Rather than building from scratch – taking years and risking failure – proven British technology can be deployed within months. DWP’s understanding of employment support and policy, combined with private sector expertise in AI and rapid innovation, would mean government maintains full ownership but delivers results quickly.
Here are a few words from our CEO and co-founder Doug, and the DWP’s former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Lord Peter Hain, who wrote the foreword of our white paper:
“Britain can’t afford to leave these billions on the table. The technology exists now to help more people into good work – fairly and cost-effectively. This is a reform that pays for itself multiple times over.”
— Doug Monro, Adzuna’s co-founder and CEO
“Properly harnessed, AI can reduce bureaucracy and accelerate the process, delivering major savings for the taxpayer while helping hundreds of thousands of people, many of them young, into work. It can release resources desperately needed for personalised coaching and support: digital technology married to a human touch”.
— Lord Peter Hain, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Huge thank you to those who shared our vision and collaborated with us to create this paper:
- Fiona Aldridge, CEO, Skills Federation
- Seb Barker, Co-founder & COO, Beam
- Andrew Bennett, Head of Special Projects, Centre for British Progress
- Matthew Bradley, CEO, Sequora
- Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Business Crown Representative, Cabinet Office
- Rt Hon Lord Peter Hain, Member of House of Lords
- Dom Hallas, Executive Director, Start up Coalition
- Joe Hill, Policy Director, Re:State
- Alexander Iosad, Director, Government Innovation, Tony Blair Institute
- Oliver Large, Policy Advisor, Government Innovation Policy, Tony Blair Institute
- Hung Lee, Curator, Recruiting Brainfood
- Ed de Minckwitz, Director of Public Policy, ServiceNow UK
- Allan Nixon, Chief of Staff, Phoenix Court
- Wendy Popplewell, Executive Director Core Services, Barnsley Council
- Richard Rigby, Head of Government Affairs, King’s Trust
- Daniel Sandford-Smith, Director, Gatsby Foundation
- RT Hon Chloe Smith, President, CIPD
- Doniya Soni-Clark, Head of Policy Multiverse
- Alex Stephany, Founder & CEO, Beam