Labour unions, industry leaders and government officials in the United Kingdom are converging on a new approach to artificial intelligence that aims to ensure the technology strengthens labour market prospects rather than undermines them.

Central to this emerging framework is a ‘worker-first’ AI strategy championed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which calls for a comprehensive plan to embed worker interests at the heart of national AI policy and innovation efforts.

The unions’ report, “Building a Pro-Worker AI Innovation Strategy,” lays out proposals to shape AI development towards good work, shared prosperity and resilient public services, and emphasises that rapid technological change should not exacerbate inequality or undermine social cohesion.

The TUC strategy comes amid growing public concern about the effects of automation and intelligent systems on employment.

Recent polling conducted for the TUC indicates that over half of British adults are worried about the impact of AI on their jobs and want workers and unions to have a meaningful voice in how the technology is deployed in workplaces and the wider economy.

Unions argue that without proactive government action, AI could deepen divides between highly skilled and routine-role workers, and potentially strain social stability if disruption goes unmanaged.

At the same time, the British government has been advancing its own artificial intelligence guidance.

In February 2025, the UK Government Digital Service published the Artificial Intelligence Playbook, a set of principles intended to help public sector organisations adopt AI technology safely, ethically and effectively.

The playbook emphasises lawful and transparent use of AI, robust lifecycle management, meaningful human oversight, and alignment with existing policies to build public trust and drive innovation within government services.

Complementing these policy efforts, officials this year announced a partnership between government and major technology firms aimed at equipping up to seven and a half million UK workers with essential AI skills.

This initiative seeks to embed digital upskilling across industries and regions, boosting workers’ capacity to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market and enhancing national competitiveness in the global AI economy.

Economists and labour analysts note that the path to a “worker-positive” AI era will require deliberate policy design, inclusive governance and sustained investment in lifelong learning.

There are calls for lifelong learning systems that support adaptability, modular training accessible throughout workers’ careers and targeted interventions for communities at risk of disproportionate disruption.

Proponents argue that with intentional strategy and collaboration between unions, industry and policymakers, AI can catalyse productivity growth, create new roles and foster resilient careers rather than trigger widespread displacement.