PhD project summary:
When ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, it fundamentally changed how millions of people do their work. For the first time in history, anyone with an internet connection could access powerful AI tools that could write, code, and analyse data, all of which are capabilities that were previously expensive and required specialized training. This sudden democratization of AI has sparked widespread concerns about job losses and economic disruption, yet we still know surprisingly little about what’s actually happening in the workplace.
This research project aims to further our understanding of how AI is transforming the UK labour market by examining four areas that will shape the economic future of the country.
The first area is education, where we will answer the question whether students are abandoning fields in which AI excels. As AI becomes capable of tasks like creative writing, data analysis, and legal research, we need to know whether young people are adapting their educational choices in response. This matters enormously for the UK’s future skills supply and economic competitiveness.
Second, we ask how the nature of work itself is changing. Rather than simply eliminating jobs, AI may be reshaping which types of tasks will be done by workers. By analysing job advertisements before and after ChatGPT’s release, we aim to identify which skills are becoming more or less valuable, to study whether AI is creating opportunities for workers to focus on more meaningful tasks or simply reducing available work.
Third, we will examine who wins and who loses from AI adoption. This is one the most pressing social questions related to AI, as it informs us whether AI levels the playing field by giving everyone access to advanced capabilities or deepens existing inequalities, benefiting only those who can afford premium AI tools. This research will examine changes in gender and racial pay gaps within AI-affected occupations to understand these distributional effects.
Fourth, we ask whether AI is spurring entrepreneurship and new business creation. If AI helps people start new companies and create innovative services, then short-term job losses might be offset by long-term economic dynamism. But if AI simply allows existing companies to do more with fewer workers, the policy implications are quite different.
Working with the UK AI Security Institute, this research will directly inform government policy on education, training, and economic support. The partnership ensures findings reach policymakers who are grappling with questions about reskilling programs, curriculum reform, and social protection measures. For instance, if we find students are abandoning strategically important fields, targeted interventions could help maintain the UK’s competitive edge. If certain groups are being left behind, support programs could help ensure AI’s benefits are shared more equitably.
This research is particularly timely as the UK government develops its approach to AI regulation and workforce policy. By providing rigorous evidence about AI’s actual impacts, this project will help ensure policy responses help the UK reap the benefits of AI innovation while reducing the potential harms.
Supervisor(s):
Bouke Klein Teeselink: bouke.klein_teeselink@kcl.ac.uk
Elisa Cavatorta: elisa.cavatorta@kcl.ac.uk
CASE non-academic partner: AI Security Institute: https://www.aisi.gov.uk/
LISS Institution: King’s College London, Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, Department of Political Economy
PhD Programme: PhD in Political Economy Research
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time
1+3.5 or +3.5 studentship: Either
How to apply:
To apply, please complete and return the documents below to the project supervisor(s) directly:
- LISS DTP CASE application form
- Academic transcripts
- References
- Additional information as stipulated in the CASE project listing
Additionally, all applicants must complete:
- LISS DTP Diversity Monitoring Form (online)
Closing date for applications: 31st January 2026
Interviews date: week commencing 9th February 2026