AI More Likely to Replace Jobs Held by Women Than Men, Says Recent Study
United Nations-led Report Warns of Higher AI Automation Risk for Women's Jobs in High-Income Countries
A recent report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Poland's National Research Institute reveals that jobs held predominantly by women in high-income nations are more likely to be vulnerable to automation by artificial intelligence (AI) than those occupied by men.
According to the report, automation could replace nearly 10% of female-dominated positions in high-income countries, compared to 3.5% for men. In Europe and Central Asia, this figure stands at 39% for women and 26% for men.
The study indicates that some professions with a significant AI exposure are clerical roles like data entry clerks, typists, and bookkeeping clerks, due to tasks such as scheduling appointments and taking meeting notes. Other high-exposure sectors are web and media development, database specialization, finance, and software-related jobs.
The report underscores that these stats reflect the potential exposure to AI, but not actual job losses. Full replacement by AI is still considered limited since human involvement is necessary for certain tasks.
The gendered vulnerability of jobs to AI-driven transformation is attributed to the increasing automation of administrative and clerical tasks, which are more common in female-dominated sectors like secretarial work. Regionally, high-income countries are experiencing more pronounced impacts from AI on their labor markets.
The report suggests that governments, employers, and workers' organizations should collaborate to develop inclusive strategies for protecting job quality and productivity in endangered sectors. It is crucial for these entities to navigate the AI hype responsibly for the greater good of the global workforce.
- The report highlights that the increased automation of tasks traditionally held by women in clerical roles, such as data entry, bookkeeping, and secretarial work, leaves them more susceptible to replacement by AI, with high-income countries experiencing the most significant impact.
- In response to these findings, the report recommends a collaborative effort between governments, employers, and workers' organizations to create inclusive strategies for job protection and productivity growth in the affected sectors, ensuring responsible navigation of AI advancement for the betterment of the global workforce.
- To further mitigate the potential risks of AI on women's health and wellness in the workplace, it is essential to advocate for education and self-development opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, which will equip women with the skills necessary to transition into new, non-automated roles as technology continues to evolve.
