AI Poised to Revolutionise UK Careers Advice, Helping Bridge Resource Gap

As the debate around artificial intelligence (AI) focuses on job displacement, one sector stands ready to harness the technology for good: careers advice. Far from replacing human advisers, AI has the potential to enhance career guidance services, making them more personalised, timely, and accessible, while addressing the strain on resources in the UK.

Funding for careers advice has significantly decreased in recent years. The Gatsby Foundation reports that spending on school pupils’ career development dropped from £159 per pupil in 2009 to just £68 today, while adult career support has also seen a decrease of nearly a third, from £35 to £26 per person. Despite these cuts, effective career guidance remains crucial to long-term employment success. Research from the Investing in Careers report shows that for every £1 spent on careers support, schools see an average return of £2.50, and unemployed adults benefit by £3.20.

This funding gap underscores the need for innovation, and AI is emerging as a powerful solution. By leveraging advanced machine learning, AI can help careers advisers efficiently guide individuals in exploring career pathways, enhancing CVs, and preparing for interviews. AI can also identify transferable skills, highlight growing industries, and adapt to shifting job markets—critical as the skills required for jobs worldwide are expected to change by at least 65% by 2030, according to LinkedIn.

Dr. Deirdre Hughes OBE, author of Careers 2035, sees a transformative role for AI in the sector. “Access to equitable AI-enhanced resources can help ensure that all individuals benefit,” she explains. “The future of career guidance must embrace innovation while breaking down barriers to ensure no one is left behind.”

AI is not meant to replace the human element of career advice, but rather to enhance it. Careers advisers remain essential for providing personal contact, empathy, and an understanding of individual circumstances. AI tools can allow them to make better use of their time, supporting more people and offering guidance that is more tailored to each person’s needs.

Chris Glennie, chief executive of Morrisby, one of the UK’s leading career guidance platforms, argues that advisers will remain central to the process. While acknowledging the challenges faced by the profession, including low pay and a significant turnover rate, he sees AI as an opportunity for advisers to shape the future of the industry. “AI can become a trusted ally,” Glennie says, allowing advisers to play an active role in refining the technology and ensuring its accuracy.

For schools, AI could help fill gaps in careers guidance. Many secondary schools are required to offer career advice from Year 7 to Year 13, yet 11% of students still miss out on one-to-one meetings with qualified advisers by the end of Year 11. AI could provide initial insights into students’ interests and strengths, freeing advisers to focus on more in-depth, personalised support.

As career paths evolve rapidly, AI systems that provide up-to-date information will help advisers stay abreast of industry changes. With the right approach, AI can bridge the resource gap, improving careers advice services and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have access to the guidance they need to build successful careers.