The Career Tech Challenge looked at supporting the development of new solutions to help people find rewarding future careers, including those in low pay or insecure work. We’ve been conducting research with the finalists to explore the process of building data-driven solutions. This report explores the findings and highlights how the CareerTech Challenge innovators used labour market data to support adults to plan for their future career.

The CareerTech Challenge, launched in 2019 by Nesta and Nesta Challenges in partnership with the Department for Education, aimed to support the development of new solutions to help people find rewarding future careers. Out of the 31 innovators supported by the CareerTech Challenge, 20 of these  focused on developing digital solutions that connect people with data-driven information, advice and guidance to help them navigate the labour market.

Solutions aimed to help users identify their own skills, and the skills needed for a rapidly changing labour market; identify jobs available in local areas; and provide pathways to prepare for and secure new, future-proof roles. Learning and Work Institute conducted research with the 20 innovators to explore the process of building these data-driven solutions. This final report shares key findings on:

  • Identifying, accessing and analysing existing labour market data
  • Developing new and experimental data
  • Translating and communicating labour market data

3 November 2026

The road to net zero: How far have we come?

Commissioned by NOCN Group, this report finds that the number of people being trained in green skills and jobs is rising. However, current training uptake, qualification pathways and workforce readiness still fall short of what’s required to reach net zero.

Read more

3 November 2026

UK risks missing Net Zero target owing to shortages of skills and workers

New L&W research, commissioned by NOCN Group, reveals key sectors for decarbonisation lack the workers and skills for the UK to reach Net Zero by 2050.

Read more

2 November 2026

Thirty years of learning: change without progress? Adult Participation in Learning Survey 2026

For 30 years, the Adult Participation in Learning Survey has provided a unique insight into adult learning across the UK. It adopts a deliberately broad definition of learning. Discover our findings from 2026.

Read more

2 November 2026

Adults’ interest in learning is undimmed – but class inequalities mean three million lost learners

The UK’s longest-running survey of adult learning marks its 30th year with the finding that just 2 in 5 adults (43%) have engaged in learning in the last three years – a figure barely improved since 1996 (40%).

Read more

2 November 2026

Adult Participation in Learning Survey

Our survey series, which began in 1996, provides a unique overview of how many adults take part in learning, their reasons for doing so or not doing so, and how this varies by group and area.

Read more

28 October 2026

Responding to Autumn Budget 2026

Learning and Work Institute Chief Executive Stephen Evans responds to the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026.

Read more

28 October 2026

Tax bills and investment in skills: How can tax relief on training better support UK engineering and manufacturing?

A new Skills Tax Credit could unlock £2.2 billion of additional investment in skills according, to new research commissioned by Enginuity and produced by Learning and Work Institute. 

Read more

28 October 2026

A Skills Tax Credit for businesses could unlock £2.2 billion skills boost, including in sectors key to growth

Research from Learning and Work Institute (L&W) published today alongside the autumn budget finds that a Skills Tax Credit could produce a £2.2 billion boost to skills across the economy by incentivising more employer investment in training.

Read more

22 September 2026

Building an AI-ready workforce: Creating a skills system that prepares UK knowledge workers for the AI transition

AI has transformative potential for the UK economy and could present a net uplift to productivity of up to £80 billion by 2035. Yet the UK workforce does not – yet – have the skills to successfully adopt and scale AI technologies in a truly transformative way.

Read more