AI Threatens Women's Jobs More Than Men's, Global Study Finds
A new study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Poland's National Research Institute (NASK) has uncovered a significant gender disparity in the potential impact of artificial intelligence on jobs. The research shows that women's employment faces a higher risk from AI advancements compared to men's, particularly in high-income countries.
Released on May 20, the report titled "Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure" provides a comprehensive analysis of how generative AI (GenAI) could reshape the global workforce. The study combines data from nearly 30,000 job tasks with expert validation and AI-assisted scoring to offer a nuanced view of AI's potential effects across various occupations and countries.
A key finding of the report highlights the gender disparity in AI exposure. In high-income nations, jobs at the highest risk of automation make up 9.6% of female employment, starkly contrasting with only 3.5% of such jobs among men. This gap underscores the disproportionate threat AI poses to women's work.
The study also reveals that clerical positions, often occupied by women, face the highest exposure due to GenAI's theoretical ability to automate many of their tasks. Additionally, some highly digitized cognitive jobs in media, software, and finance-related occupations are experiencing increased exposure to AI capabilities.
While the report indicates that 25% of global employment falls within occupations potentially exposed to GenAI, with higher shares in high-income countries (34%), it emphasizes that job transformation, rather than outright replacement, is the most likely outcome.
Pawel Gmyrek, ILO Senior Researcher and lead author of the study, stated, "We've created a replicable method that helps countries assess risk and respond with precision." This approach aims to assist policymakers in distinguishing between jobs at high risk of full automation and those more likely to evolve through task transformation.
The researchers stress that these figures reflect potential exposure, not guaranteed job losses. Factors such as technological constraints, infrastructure gaps, and skills shortages mean that AI implementation will differ widely by country and sector.
In light of these findings, the report calls for governments, employers, and workers' organizations to engage in social dialogue and develop proactive, inclusive strategies. These efforts should focus on enhancing productivity and job quality, especially in sectors most exposed to AI advancements.
As AI continues to evolve, this research provides crucial insights for policymakers and industry leaders to address the gender disparities in AI's impact on employment. It underscores the need for targeted initiatives to support women in adapting to the changing nature of work in the AI era.
The ILO-NASK study is the first in a series of publications focused on GenAI and the future of work. Upcoming reports will explore national labor market impacts and provide technical guidance for policy responses, particularly in emerging and developing economies.