Tens of thousands of people have used new digital employment tools launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), including an AI-powered assistant designed to provide personalised support to jobseekers.
Around 20,000 people have used the CV builder available through DWP’s new Work Hub since it launched as a pilot in June, while 16,000 have used its AI-powered Work Assistant.
The Work Hub is being developed as a universal digital employment service, described by the government as a “jobcentre in your pocket”. Available through phones, tablets and computers, it brings together tools for finding and applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, developing CVs and identifying training opportunities.
Its Build a CV tool is intended to help people turn their skills and experience into CVs tailored to particular roles and suitable for online recruitment systems.
The AI Work Assistant provides personalised guidance covering job searches, applications, interview preparation and career development. DWP said guardrails have been introduced to keep the AI focused on employment support and ensure responses are appropriate.
The department is also exploring how the technology can complement support provided by staff in Jobcentres. Work coaches have begun using the AI assistant during appointments to explore career options, transferable skills and approaches to job searching.
Minister for Innovation, Fraud and Data Lilian Greenwood said the figures demonstrated the early uptake of the service.
“The world of work is changing, so the support we provide must change with it,” she said, adding that around 20,000 people had already used the CV tools to help showcase their skills.
DWP stressed that the digital services are intended to complement rather than replace face-to-face support from work coaches. Existing requirements for Universal Credit claimants in the Intensive Work Search group are also unchanged.
The Work Hub forms part of wider reforms to employment support, with government plans calling for a more universal and digitally enabled jobs and careers service combining employment assistance, skills and careers advice. Earlier plans allocated £55 million to begin developing and testing elements of the new service.
The government is also investing £2.5 billion in measures intended to create almost one million work and training opportunities for young people as part of efforts to tackle economic inactivity and increase employment.