Digitalisation and AI: Worsening Gender Inequalities in the Workplace

Strategic Insights -

The rise of generative artificial intelligence and widespread digitalisation threatens to displace both men and women from jobs, with women likely to experience a significantly higher rate of impact, exacerbating existing gender inequalities in the workplace. According to a United Nations policy update, 27.6% of jobs held by women are potentially exposed to automation or major changes from generative AI, compared to 21.1% of jobs held by men. The impact is expected to be felt most acutely in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, where women are concentrated in sectors with high exposure to GenAI.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN report finds that 27.6% of jobs held by women are potentially exposed to automation or major changes from generative AI, compared to 21.1% of jobs held by men.
  • Women are disproportionately affected by job displacement, with 3.5 million administrative support and assembly-line jobs held by women of prime working age lost in the United States between 2000 and 2019.
  • The under-representation of women in the technology sector itself exacerbates the problem, with women's participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields below one-third across a sample of 73 countries.
  • Greater diversity in tech teams can help mitigate the risks of biased technology, but it is not a complete solution.
  • Digitalisation presents new opportunities for women's economic inclusion, including remote work, teleworking, and the gig economy.
  • However, a persistent digital gender gap continues to exclude many women from these opportunities, particularly in developing countries.

Statistics:

  • 27.6% of jobs held by women are potentially exposed to automation or major changes from generative AI (GenAI) (Source: UN DESA report).
  • 21.1% of jobs held by men are potentially exposed to automation or major changes from GenAI (Source: UN DESA report).
  • 3.5 million administrative support and assembly-line jobs held by women of prime working age were lost in the United States between 2000 and 2019 (Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
  • Women's participation in STEM fields remains below one-third across a sample of 73 countries (Source: World Bank).
  • 73% of countries have a digital divide, with 15% of the global population remaining offline (Source: International Telecommunication Union).

Sources:

  • United Nations Department of Social Affairs (DESA) report (no date provided).
  • United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
  • World Bank.
  • International Telecommunication Union (ITU).