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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why women are 3 times more likely than men to lose jobs to AI, as per ILO study
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries and automates tasks at lightning speed, a new global study has uncovered a troubling truth: Women are three times more likely than men to lose their jobs to AI. The study, conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency, shows that this fast-moving wave of automation isn't hitting everyone equally— and women are bearing the brunt of it. The numbers tell a stark story In wealthier countries, around 10% of jobs held by women are at high risk of being replaced by AI. In contrast, only 3.5% of male-held jobs fall into that category. This isn't just about automation—it's about widening the gender gap in the workplace. So, what's behind this imbalance? The jobs most at risk According to the ILO, AI is especially likely to replace clerical and administrative roles—jobs like typists, data entry clerks, bookkeepers, and even some financial analysts and software developers. These positions are often repetitive, rule-based, and highly digitized, making them ideal targets for tools like generative AI. And guess what? These roles are mostly held by women. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No dark spots, 10 years younger! Just take this from Watsons URUHIME MOMOKO Learn More Undo 'Clerical jobs face the highest exposure of all,' says the ILO report. Senior economist Janine Berg adds, 'We need clarity and context—not just AI hype—so countries can prepare their labor markets for a fairer future.' It's not just low-level jobs anymore What's even more concerning is that AI is starting to creep into higher-skilled fields too. Jobs in software, finance, and media—once considered safe from automation—are now at risk because of how digital and data-driven they've become. That means even women in high-paying, cognitively demanding roles aren't safe from the impact of AI. The gender gap is growing Jobs that are relatively safe from AI—like cleaners, dentists, performers, and sanitation workers—are less likely to be held by women. This creates a dangerous imbalance that could widen existing gaps in pay, employment, and career advancement. Marek Troszyński, co-author of the ILO study, highlights the importance of this research: 'This tool helps identify where GenAI will have the biggest impact, so countries can prepare and protect workers.' A call for smarter policies The ILO is urging governments, employers, and labor organizations to take action—now. The goal? To make sure AI helps improve job quality and productivity without leaving women behind. Tech isn't neutral— And neither should our response be At the heart of this study is a powerful message: AI doesn't work in a vacuum. It reflects and amplifies existing social structures—including biases. If we don't act now, AI could deepen inequality in the workforce. But with smart, inclusive policies and proactive planning, we can shape a future where technology supports equity—not exclusion. The bottom line The AI revolution is here, and it's changing how we work. The real question is: Will we let it deepen the gender divide, or will we use it to build a more inclusive world of work? The answer depends on what we do next. Why India's mental health crisis needs urgent attention One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
AI poses a greater threat to women in the workforce, but why? ILO study reveals alarming gender gap predictions
Behind the Numbers: Why Women Are More at Risk You Might Also Like: Is the AI takeover driving Gen Z back to traditional jobs amid uncertainty in white-collar careers? Beyond Clerical: The Expanding Reach of AI The Gendered Future of Work Technology Isn't Neutral—Policy Shouldn't Be Either As artificial intelligence continues to sweep through offices, industries, and workflows, a new global study has laid bare a stark gender disparity in its impact. According to the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO), women are three times more likely than men to lose their jobs to AI-driven automation. In an age already defined by digital transformation, this revelation has added a sobering new layer to the conversation around technological high-income nations, nearly 10% of female-held jobs fall under high-risk categories susceptible to AI automation. That's a striking contrast to just 3.5% of male-held roles. This isn't just a statistic—it's a glimpse into a future where automation may not only rewrite job descriptions, but exacerbate existing inequalities in the labor ILO's findings were compiled through an innovative index that calculates the risk of job transformation or outright replacement by AI. The roles most under threat? Clerical and administrative jobs—positions heavily populated by include typists, bookkeepers, data entry clerks, and even roles traditionally requiring specialized skills like financial analysts and software developers. The reason for the high exposure lies in the very nature of these jobs—repetitive, rule-based, and digitized—which makes them ripe for replacement by tools like generative AI.'Clerical jobs face the highest exposure of all,' the ILO report states, pointing out that GenAI can theoretically replicate many of their tasks. Senior economist Janine Berg warns against buying into the AI hype without a grounded understanding: 'What we need is clarity and context. This tool helps countries across the world assess potential exposure and prepare their labor markets for a fairer digital future.'What's particularly unsettling is that it's not just low-level clerical work under threat. As AI capabilities expand, so does its reach into more cognitively demanding roles. The ILO notes that jobs in software, finance, and media are now showing signs of increased vulnerability due to their highly digitized suggests that even women in high-skill, high-pay roles aren't immune. The AI wave is not just washing over entry-level tasks—it's creeping into creative and analytical domains that were once considered safe from some roles—like cleaners, dentists, performers, and garbage collectors—remain relatively shielded from AI, the jobs being replaced are more commonly held by women. This imbalance risks widening existing gender gaps in employment , pay, and career Troszyński, senior expert at NASK and co-author of the ILO study, stressed the tool's significance in guiding national policy: 'This index helps identify where GenAI is likely to have the biggest impact, so countries can better prepare and protect workers.'The ILO is now urging governments, employers, and labor organizations to work collaboratively on proactive strategies. The goal: harness AI to enhance job quality and productivity without sacrificing inclusion and equity in the its core, the ILO's study is a warning siren: AI doesn't operate in a vacuum. It mirrors and magnifies existing societal structures—biases included. As the global workforce braces for the inevitable AI reshaping, there's a clear call to timely intervention, the automation revolution could become yet another chapter in the long history of gendered labor inequality. But with strategic planning, policy engagement, and equitable design, the rise of AI doesn't have to come at the cost of women's future is being written by algorithms—but who gets to keep their job may depend on the decisions we make today.
Euronews
26-05-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Women three times more likely to have job taken by AI than men
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".
Euronews
24-05-2025
- Science
- Euronews
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.
