After graduating in Physics at Oxford, Francis studied economics with an MSc at the London School of Economics, before writing his PhD thesis on the theory of saving at Birkbeck College. He began his career Kingston Polytechnic. After spells at the Universities of Massachusetts, Leicester, Leeds and Kent, he moved to the LLAKES research centre at the Institute of Education in April 2010.

His general interests lie in labour economics, education and political economy. He maintains an interdisciplinary approach in both research and teaching. His research covers three overlapping areas: skill formation in schools and workplaces, the role of unions, and the analysis of job quality.