UWV Explores AI to Boost Inclusion in the Labour Market
den haag, woensdag, 9 juli 2025.
The UWV is investigating how artificial intelligence (AI) can contribute to labour participation, particularly for people with disabilities. Through pilot projects, applications such as reading glasses, speech recognition, and live captioning are being tested. These innovations provide concrete support to individuals who are at risk of falling out of or struggling to integrate into the workforce. Strategic knowledge advisor Ilse Hento emphasises that these technologies must be well introduced and supported to be effective.
Pilots and Applications
In the pilots conducted by the UWV, various AI applications are being tested. Examples include reading glasses that convert texts to speech in real-time for people with visual impairments, Speaksee, an AI solution that provides live captioning for conversations for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and speech apps that improve the intelligibility of people with speech difficulties [1]. These technologies are now reimbursed and have shown a positive impact in the workplace, especially when they are well introduced and supported [1].
Ethics and Feasibility
When deploying AI, the UWV also considers ethics, accessibility, and privacy. Not every tool can be easily integrated into internal systems. Therefore, the UWV collaborates with other parties within the ‘Coalition for Technology and Inclusion’ to investigate how technology, policy, and practice can better align [1]. Professional guidance is crucial, stresses Ilse Hento, strategic knowledge advisor at the UWV: ‘You can’t just throw AI over the fence. It requires involvement from employers, colleagues, and supervisors.’ [1]
Impact on Occupational Experts
For occupational experts and other professionals in the field of work and health, the deployment of AI is a relevant issue. Not only because of the substantive opportunities, but also due to implementation challenges: how do you make technology usable for people with diverse disabilities within varied work contexts? [1] The use of AI raises questions about digital skills, support capacity, and customisation. Professionals need to be alert to technological solutions, but also to the conditions for successful implementation: training, buy-in, and funding [1].
Future Perspective
The pilots provide a first glimpse into the possibilities of AI in labour participation. The next question is: how do we scale and sustain it? This presents an opportunity for occupational experts, case managers, and HR professionals to actively contribute to sustainable employability — supported by technology, but always human-centred [1]. According to recent research, 51% of employees are expected to require additional training due to AI, underscoring the need to actively invest in reskilling and upskilling [5].