A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed that women face greater workplace risks from the rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), largely because many of the occupations they dominate are more vulnerable to automation.
The findings were published in a research brief titled “Gen AI, occupational segregation and gender equality in the world of work.” The report warns that female-dominated occupations are almost twice as likely to be exposed to GenAI compared with jobs predominantly held by men.
According to the report, women are more exposed to the effects of generative AI because they are concentrated in roles that involve routine and repetitive tasks, which are easier to automate. The study also noted that women remain underrepresented in science and technology fields, particularly in AI-related roles, leaving them more vulnerable to disruption while limiting their opportunities to benefit from the technology.
The ILO explained that across countries where data is available, about 29 per cent of female-dominated occupations are exposed to generative AI, compared with 16 per cent of male-dominated occupations.
The report added that the gap becomes even wider when examining jobs with the highest automation risk. It stated that 16 per cent of female-dominated occupations fall into the highest exposure category, compared with just 3 per cent of male-dominated occupations.
The research attributed the disparity to occupational segregation in the labour market. It noted that women are heavily represented in clerical, administrative, and business support roles, including secretaries, receptionists, payroll clerks, and accounting assistants. These jobs often involve routine tasks that can be performed by generative AI systems.
In contrast, men are more likely to work in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and manual trades, where tasks are more difficult to automate.
Co-author of the research, Anam Butt, said generative AI is entering a labour market already shaped by structural inequalities. She explained that social norms, unequal care responsibilities, and labour market policies continue to influence the types of jobs women and men occupy.
“Generative AI is not entering a neutral labour market,” Butt said, noting that these factors have led to women being concentrated in occupations more likely to face automation while remaining underrepresented in AI-related roles.
The report also highlighted that although generative AI is expected to create new jobs in technology-driven sectors, women remain largely absent from these opportunities. Globally, women accounted for only about 30 per cent of the AI workforce in 2022, a figure only slightly higher than the level recorded in 2016.
According to the study, this gap is significant because when women are excluded from AI-related jobs and decision-making roles, they are less likely to benefit from emerging employment opportunities and skills development.
The report added that companies also lose valuable talent, diversity, and innovation when women are not adequately represented.
The research further warned that AI technologies are not always neutral. Since these systems are developed and trained using existing data and social structures, they can replicate biases already present in society.
The ILO noted that the lack of women involved in the development and deployment of AI increases the risk of gender-biased technologies.
In some cases, AI systems trained on biased or incomplete data have been shown to disadvantage women in areas such as recruitment decisions, pay determination, credit scoring, and access to certain services.
The report added that these risks may be even greater for women who also face other forms of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, disability, or migration status.
Despite these concerns, the ILO said the primary impact of generative AI may not necessarily be job loss but changes in job quality.
According to the organisation, the technology could reshape tasks, increase workplace monitoring, and intensify workloads. However, if properly designed and implemented, it could also improve productivity, working conditions, and work-life balance.
Commenting on the issue, Janine Berg, a senior economist at the ILO and co-author of the report, said the outcome will depend largely on the decisions made by governments, employers, and workers.
“The impact of generative AI on women’s jobs is not predetermined,” Berg said, adding that appropriate policies, social dialogue, and gender-responsive design can help prevent existing inequalities from worsening.
The ILO therefore stressed the need to incorporate gender equality considerations into the design, deployment, and governance of AI systems.
It also called for stronger labour market institutions and cooperation among governments, employers, and workers to ensure technological change supports decent work and fosters a more inclusive future of work.
