More Effective Social Protection for Stronger Economic Growth: United Kingdom

Main Findings from the OECD 2024 Risks that Matter Survey

The OECD’s Risks that Matter (RTM) Survey has offered data-driven insights into people’s risk perceptions and preferences for social protection since 2018. Today, respondents in the United Kingdom are less worried than the OECD average about most social and economic risks, with one exception: accessing good-quality healthcare.

As technology changes labour markets, respondents in the United Kingdom anticipate positive and negative impacts at levels similar to the OECD average (Figure 1). Concerns about negative impacts contribute to demands for social protection. As elsewhere, respondents in the United Kingdom support investment in training and education. Compared to the OECD average, respondents in the United Kingdom are notably more supportive of migration of skilled workers, taxes on robots and/or technology and basic income (Figure 2).

Longer life expectancy and declining fertility contribute to population ageing, with negative implications for economic growth and the financing of social protection. Respondents in the United Kingdom are similarly concerned about population ageing as the OECD average. Reflecting this, respondents in the United Kingdom express a similar level of support for measures to increase labour supply, especially among women and underrepresented groups, and increase technology use. People in the United Kingdom are more supportive of measures to boost migration, but less supportive of measures to boost fertility (Figure 3).

Population ageing and competing demands for resources are narrowing the fiscal space for social programmes. These changes are taking place against a backdrop of high levels of debt, a high-interest rate environment, and declining public willingness to pay for social protection. In the United Kingdom, willingness to pay 2% more for better social protection has remained relatively stable since the last wave of the survey in 2022 for most policy areas, but notable declines are observed for pensions, public safety and health (Figure 4).

Figure 1. Technological change perceived as producing both positive and negative impacts

Share (%) predicting selected impacts from digitalisation over the next five years, United Kingdom and OECD average, 2024

Note: Labels simplified from original questions. See Figure 1.5 in main report.

Source: 2024 OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

Figure 2. Calls for re-training and education for workers affected by technological change

Share (%) supporting specified actions as a response to digitalisation, United Kingdom and OECD average, 2024

Note: Labels simplified from original questions. See Figure 2.1 in main report.

Source: 2024 OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

Figure 3. Boosting labour supply and technology are preferred to address worker shortages

Share (%) of respondents who support specified actions to population ageing, United Kingdom and OECD average, 2024

Note: Labels simplified from original questions. LFP refers to labour force participation. See Figure 2.4 in main report.

Source: 2024 OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

Figure 4. Willingness to pay more for certain social programmes has declined since 2022

Share (%) willing to pay 2% more for better social and public benefits, by policy area, United Kingdom, 2018-24

Note: Questions may have changed slighted year-over-year. Labels simplified from original questions. See Figure 3.1 in main report.

Source: OECD Risks that Matter Survey (https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/oecd-risks-that-matter-rtm-survey.html).

This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.

This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

 

The full book is available in English: OECD (2025), More Effective Social Protection for Stronger Economic Growth: Main Findings from the 2024 Risks that Matter Survey, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/3947946a-en.

 

© OECD 2025

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Attribution – you must cite the work.

Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid.

Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.

Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement.

You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.

Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.