Geneva – A new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) warns that the rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is poised to disproportionately impact women in the workforce. The study reveals that occupations dominated by women are almost twice as likely to be exposed to the disruptive potential of this technology compared to those primarily held by men, raising concerns about widening gender inequalities in the labor market.
The ILO’s research, detailed in the brief “Gen AI, occupational segregation and gender equality in the world of work,” identifies three key factors contributing to this disparity. These include women’s overrepresentation in roles susceptible to automation, their underrepresentation in the growing field of AI and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) occupations, and the inherent biases often embedded within AI systems themselves. This confluence of factors suggests that the transformative power of GenAI may exacerbate existing vulnerabilities for female workers.
Women Overrepresented in High-Risk Roles
Across countries with available data, approximately 29 percent of jobs predominantly held by women are exposed to GenAI, a figure significantly higher than the 16 percent exposure rate for male-dominated occupations. The risk is even more pronounced when considering high-automation potential, with 16 percent of female-dominated roles falling into the highest exposure categories, compared to just 3 percent for their male counterparts. This disparity is largely attributed to occupational segregation, where women are heavily concentrated in administrative and clerical positions – roles involving routine, codifiable tasks easily replaced by AI.
Examples of these high-risk occupations include secretaries, receptionists, payroll clerks, and accounting assistants. Conversely, men are more frequently employed in sectors like construction, manufacturing, and manual trades, where tasks are generally less amenable to automation. The ILO analysis found that in 88 percent of the countries studied, women are more exposed to GenAI than men. In several economies, including Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines, over 40 percent of women’s employment is potentially affected by GenAI, according to the report.
AI Workforce Remains Largely Male-Dominated
While GenAI is expected to fuel job growth in technology-intensive sectors, women remain significantly underrepresented in these emerging opportunities. In 2022, women comprised only around 30 percent of the AI workforce, a marginal increase of 4 percentage points since 2016. This underrepresentation extends to broader STEM fields, particularly in high-demand areas like engineering and software development.
“Generative AI is not entering a neutral labour market,” stated Anam Butt, co-author of the ILO research. “Discriminatory social norms, unequal care responsibilities and economic and labour market policies that do not fully address the needs of women and men continue to shape who enters which occupations and on what terms. Women are concentrated in occupations that are more likely to be exposed to automation and remain underrepresented in AI-related jobs, facing higher risks but fewer opportunities from this technological shift.”
Bias in AI Systems Amplifies Existing Inequalities
The ILO report emphasizes that GenAI, like previous technological advancements, is not inherently neutral. AI systems are designed, trained, and deployed within existing societal structures, and can therefore perpetuate and even amplify existing biases and discrimination. The lack of female representation in the development and implementation of AI increases the risk of creating technologies that disadvantage women. AI systems trained on biased data have demonstrated discriminatory outcomes in areas such as recruitment, pay decisions, credit scoring, and access to essential services.
These risks are compounded for women facing multiple forms of discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity, disability, or migration status. Without proactive safeguards, GenAI has the potential to exacerbate these inequalities on a large scale.
Policy Responses are Crucial
The ILO stresses that the primary impact of GenAI is likely to be on the quality of jobs, rather than simply the quantity. The technology can alter tasks, intensify workloads, increase monitoring, or reduce worker autonomy. Although, the report notes that responsible design and implementation can likewise improve working conditions, boost productivity, and support work-life balance.
“The choices made today will determine whether GenAI becomes a force for greater equality or one that entrenches existing gaps,” the brief asserts. Embedding gender equality into the design, deployment, and governance of GenAI is paramount, alongside addressing occupational segregation and expanding women’s access to skills and opportunities in AI-related fields.
Janine Berg, senior economist in the ILO’s Research Department and co-author of the report, emphasized that “The impact of generative AI on women’s jobs is not predetermined. With the right policies, social dialogue and gender-responsive design, we can avert reinforcing existing discrimination.” Strong labor market institutions and social dialogue, involving governments, employers, and workers, are critical to shaping the introduction of GenAI in a way that supports decent work and a more inclusive future for all.
The future impact of generative AI on the workforce remains to be seen, but the ILO’s findings underscore the urgent need for proactive policies and inclusive strategies to mitigate potential risks and ensure that the benefits of this technology are shared equitably. Further research and ongoing monitoring will be essential to track the evolving effects of GenAI on gender equality in the world of work.
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