It’s only 10 years away but the rate at which change has happened over the last 5 years, with things like remote/hybrid working becoming the norm due to the pandemic to the huge and continued rise in AI being implemented into every corner of our daily lives. Lets take a look at what the workplace is likely to look like in 10 years time…
1. A New Era of Automation & AI: “Downloadable Employees”
By 2035, AI and automation aren’t just tools, they’re digital colleagues. Already, 78% of UK organisations use “AI agents” to automate administrative workflows, a trend dubbed the rise of “downloadable employees” (The Times).
Generative AI is spreading fast in the public sector: 22% actively use it, with 45% aware of its adoption. These tools are poised to slash bureaucratic burdens, such as potentially reducing NHS time spent on paperwork by a full working day per week (arXiv).
AI adoption continues accelerating: UK workplace use rose 66% since September 2023, with 49% of employees using AI at work by 2025, despite cautious cybersecurity concerns (Salesforce, The Times).
By 2035:
- AI will handle repetitive work autonomously.
- Humans will focus on oversight, creativity, ethics, and collaboration.
- Employers will emphasise AI literacy, ethics, and soft skills, while building governance frameworks to manage AI safely and fairly (The Times).
2. A Green Reskilling Boom & Regional Recovery
Achieving net zero by 2030 will generate around one million new green jobs, especially in energy, home heating, transport electrification, and energy efficiency, touching every UK region with estimated 2–3% GVA growth (Bain).
By 2035, the labour market is projected to see 2.6 million new jobs, concentrated in professional roles within healthcare, education, and services (NFER, ascl.org.uk).
By 2035:
- Approximately 4 million UK workers will require reskilling for green transitions (Bain).
- Graduates will be in even higher demand: an additional 11 million graduates will be needed, bumping the share of university-educated workers to ~61% (from ~52% in 2025) (Universities UK, futureofworkhub.info).
- Key roles: health professionals, educators, digital specialists will thrive. The UK will need over 1.2 million health and social care associates, 1 million health professionals, and 1 million education professionals by 2035 (Universities UK).
3. Ageing Workforce & a Demand for Flexibility
An ageing population means nearly 1 million more informal carers by 2035, up 10.6% from 2024 (lewissilkin.com). Already, UK law allows employees to request flexible working from Day 1 of employment, but critics argue the protections are weak (WIRED, lewissilkin.com).
By 2035:
- Flexible and hybrid work setups will be the norm not the exception.
- Policies will likely strengthen to better support carers and older workers, especially as caregiving demands climb.
- Workplace design (remote hubs, paid flexibility, digital infrastructure) will be a non-negotiable part of employer strategy.
4. Graduates, Skills-Based Hiring & Inclusive Growth
Employers across sectors rely heavily on graduates: about 64% of workers in industrial strategy sectors hold a degree (Universities UK). However, there’s growing momentum for skills-based hiring, particularly in green and AI-driven roles, where skill proficiency (degree apprenticeships) now trumps formal degrees. For example, AI skills can carry a 23% wage premium, whereas degrees offer less return unless to PhD level (arXiv).
By 2035:
- A dual system: universities remain vital, but fast, flexible credentials (micro-certificates, apprenticeships) propel many into industry.
- Employers assess workers by competencies and contribution, not just diplomas.
5. Smart Machines & Workplace Transformation
The UK’s Smart Machines Strategy 2035 envisions a future where intelligent robots and semi-autonomous systems become embedded across sectors, boosting productivity from £6.4 billion to a staggering £150 billion in GVA (GOV.UK).
By 2035:
- Smart machines will automate hazardous and repetitive tasks in healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental management.
- Workplaces will incorporate robotics, sensors, and data-driven design to enhance employee wellbeing and efficiency.
6. Workplace Culture: Hybrid, Human-Centred, & Wellbeing-Focused
Remote work has already become entrenched: UK employees average 1.8 home-working days/week versus 1.3 globally, particularly as commuting remains costly and time-consuming (The Guardian).
By 2035:
- Hybrid work will dominate. Offices will evolve into collaborative, wellbeing-focussed hubs designed to energise rather than house employees.
- Workspaces will become “sentient”, with adaptive environments driven by AI, sensors, and human needs integration (HRreview | HR News, Opinion & Advice).
- Employee autonomy and wellbeing will define loyalty, with rigid presenteeism left behind.
Summary Table: UK Workplace Then vs. Now vs. 2035
| Feature | Today (2025) | By 2035 |
|---|---|---|
| Work Modality | Hybrid with ~1.8 remote days/week (The Guardian) | Fully flexible systems; remote & office blended |
| AI & Automation | Growing AI use (~49% employees using) (The Times) | AI agents co-work; smart automation for tasks |
| Reskilling Needs | Emerging green jobs, reskilling starting (Bain) | 4m reskilled; large green/pro services jobs |
| Education & Skills | Degree-based hiring dominates | Skills-based paths; micro credentials thrive |
| Workforce Demographics | Growing older workforce, initial flexibility laws (WIRED, lewissilkin.com) | Strong caregiving support, inclusive hiring |
| Workplace Design | Traditional offices, early smart elements (HRreview | HR News, Opinion & Advice) | Sentient, sensor-rich, wellness-centred spaces |
Final Thoughts
By 2035, the UK workplace will likely be a dynamic ecosystem deeply integrated with AI, green technologies, and human-centred flexibility. Education and training will be reimagined, privileging skill mastery over credentials. Workplace culture will prioritise wellbeing, autonomy, and purpose.
Stay ahead: organisations should invest now in AI fluency, green training, hybrid infrastructure, and inclusive policies to thrive in this human-AI-green frontier.
For Further Reading:
- AI & workplaces: “downloadable employees” trend and public sector AI use (The Times, arXiv)
- Reskilling forecasts: 4 million green jobs by 2030, 2.6 million new jobs by 2035 (Bain, NFER, ascl.org.uk)
- Graduate demand: Need for 11 million more degree-holders by 2035 (Universities UK)
- Smart Machines Strategy: Expected £150B GVA boost by 2035 (GOV.UK)
- Remote work: UK ahead in hybrid adoption (The Guardian)
