Skip to main content
Northern England and the Midlands to face the brunt of the robot revolution
A report by the Centre for Cities think-tank warns automation could threaten 20 per cent of jobs in Britain's cities

THE march of the robots could threaten 20 per cent of jobs in Britain’s cities, with most of the brunt being borne by northern England and the Midlands, a new report warns today.

The alarming estimate of the effect of automation on employment comes from independent think-tank the Centre for Cities, which works with local authorities, business and the government to “understand and improve” the economic performance of Britain’s urban areas.

Retail workers’ union Usdaw said that employers are already cashing in on the replacement of humans with machines at supermarkets across the country, with automated check-outs rapidly replacing till operators.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
A general view of The Chat GPT website
Features / 3 April 2026
3 April 2026

MIKE SCOTT assesses the AI threat to jobs in the first of a pair of articles on the problems it poses

SEEKING SOLIDARITY: Paul W Fleming is looking for support from the rest of the labour movement in fighting exploitative practices by Big Tech
TUC Congress 2025 / 9 September 2025
9 September 2025

PAUL W FLEMING is unequivocal that Labour’s unpreparedness and resulting ambiguity on copyright in the creative industries has to be reined in with policies that will reverse the growing abuse by Big Tech AI

Joanne Thomas campaigning for safe shopwork
Durham Miners’ Gala 2025 / 12 July 2025
12 July 2025

Incoming Usdaw general secretary JOANNE THOMAS talks to Ben Chacko about workers’ rights, Labour and how to arrest the decline of the high street