How fast is Agriculture 4.0 advancing in the UK? An analysis using employment routine intensity

This study explores the adoption rate of Agriculture 4.0 technologies in the UK by analysing changes in employment routine intensity across various sectors from 2011 to 2021. Using the ALM task-based approach and data from the UK Labour Force Survey and Census microdata, we assess the extent of automation in Agriculture relative to other industries. Our findings indicate that the Agriculture sector experienced a modest reduction in routine intensity by aggregating occupation’s routine content, suggesting slower adoption of advanced technologies compared to sectors like Information and Communication and Financial Services, which showed substantial declines in routine tasks. The results underscore a broader trend of technological integration in knowledge-intensive industries, whereas Agriculture's lagging pace highlights a potential gap in achieving optimal productivity and efficiency gains through automation. Future research should investigate these findings across different data sources and countries to provide a comprehensive understanding of Agriculture 4.0 in the UK and globally.