Women's jobs three times more likely to be taken by AI then men's
Women's jobs are at a higher risk of automation by artificial intelligence (AI) than those occupied by men, according to a new study from the United Nations.
The recent report from the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Poland's National Research Institute of the Ministry of Digital Affairs (NASK) found that automation could replace just under 10 per cent of female-dominated positions in high-income countries compared to the 3.5 per cent it could replace for men.
The biggest disparity between male and female-dominated jobs happens in high-income countries, where 41 percent of all high-income work for women could be exposed to AI, compared to 28 percent of men's jobs.
In Europe and Central Asia, 39 per cent of women's jobs could be affected compared to 26 percent of men.
The patterns identified by the study "reflect both occupational structures," and that AI-exposed jobs are "concentrated in higher-income countries".
Overall, the ILO found that one in four workers globally work in an occupation with some AI exposure.
To reach these findings, the survey was conducted with1,640 people employed in various fields in Poland, with the results analysed by a small group of international experts.
Researchers then developed an AI that used this survey data alongside national job information to identify how likely 2,500 professions and over 29,000 work tasks would be automated.
The study found that clerical occupations like data entry clerks, typists, word processing operators, accountants, and bookkeeping clerks are the most exposed to AI, due to some of the tasks performed in those professions, like taking meeting notes or scheduling appointments.
Other professions identified with a large AI exposure are web and media developers, database specialists, financial, and software-related jobs.
The study notes that these numbers reflect the "potential exposure," but that they don't reflect any actual job losses.
Full replacement by AI is still "limited," the report continued, noting that human involvement is still needed to oversee certain tasks.
"As most occupations consist of tasks that require human input, transformation of jobs is the most likely impact of generative AI," the report reads.
What could impact the number of jobs lost or AI adoption more broadly are technological constraints, infrastructure gaps, and skills shortages, the report continued.
The report asks governments, employees, and workers organisations to shape "inclusive strategies" that can help protect job quality and productivity in endangered fields.
"It's easy to get lost in the AI hype," Janine Berg, senior economist at the ILO, said in a statement. "What we need is clarity and context".
The European Commission will this year review rules governing ride-hailing services such as Uber, Bolt, Cabify and Heetch this year as part of its Single Market Strategy unveiled this week, a senior official has indicated.
EU member state currently regulate app-based taxi services through a patchwork of different rules, covering aspects such as licensing, waiting times, vehicle size, and parking. In recent years, tensions in relations between traditional taxi drivers and ride-share drivers have flared in various capitals, amid accusations of unfair competition.
Transport is a shared competence between EU countries and the European executive, and the Commission intends to work towards harmonising these rules.
Speaking on Thursday at the launch of the Shared Mobility Europe coalition – a group bringing together European ride-hailing firms, driver organisations and mobility platforms – Petra Söderqvist, a member of the cabinet of Tourism Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, welcomed the inclusion of ride-sharing in the Single Market Strategy.
'We have the support of the college that we need to look into this,' she said.
'I think that there is a strong signal that we want to have a political discussion on this in the Commission this year - what can we actually do to address this and what are the possibilities,' she added, noting that further details and actions would be shared in 2025.
During the coalition's launch, representatives of ride-share companies voiced their concerns, highlighting stark regulatory differences across the EU. For example, in Italy, drivers must wait 20 minutes after a booking is made before picking up fares, and there are fewer licences available in the country than in Paris alone. In parts of Spain, vehicles must be at least 4.9 metres long.
Back in 2022, the Commission issued a notice on Transport-on-Demand, acknowledging the value of ride-hailing in decarbonising transport and enhancing mobility. But Eduardo Martín Gómez de Villalba, President of MOVEA - an NGO representing the interests of VTC (chauffeur-driven vehicle) drivers - said that while the recognition was appreciated, it was not sufficient. He is urging the Commission to propose binding regulations to address the ongoing challenges.
Söderqvist warned that warned not to expect "any grand actions", however since she said the issue involved sensitivities over legal competence and the subsidiarity principle.
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