Women are more likely to have their jobs impacted by a shift towards automation and AI, a new report has found.

Around two in five (43%) jobs are due to be automated within the next three years, prompting Code First Girls and Tech Talent Charter to investigate how this shift will impact the workforce and its diversity.

According to their joint report, Building tomorrow’s workforce: Inclusive skills development in the age of AI women are 40% more likely to be impacted by job automation than their men.

With 90% of software engineers being men, the shift for automation and AI to take over jobs in the tech industry may only widen this gender gap.

“The scope of AI innovation is exciting, but it needs to be developed with diversity in mind,” Anna Brailsford, CEO and co-founder of Code First Girls said.

The report claims that the way to tackle this upcoming shift in the workforce is through upskilling and training initiatives.

“Reskilling will become a competitive advantage, with employees who are hungry to learn, more satisfied at work, and able to innovate using the latest technology tools,” Brailsford said.

“Inclusive reskilling can achieve exactly what AI promises to deliver. It’s capable of releasing the fullest spectrum of our human intelligence and creativity, unhindered by the biases of the status quo. Let’s get it right.”

Skill-building in the workforce can no longer be sidelined, the paper contends, with about a quarter (24%) of businesses putting skill-building efforts in the context of corporate strategy.

Only 41% of Code First Girls members have been given the opportunity to upskill in the workplace, which can severely lessen their ability to future-proof their skills or gain promotions.

This is not because workers are unwilling to skill – 68% of workers are aware of upcoming job disruptions and are willing to learn – but a lack of opportunity from companies.

The issue is more paramount for women workers, the paper claim, as they are more likely to come from non-traditional tech backgrounds, and more likely than men to be learning on the job (28% v 18%).

The impact of tech training has been essential in closing the gender gap in tech, with 78% of the Tech Talent Charter’s survey respondents saying they would not hae been able to secure their current role without tech training.

Further, eight in ten (81%) of career switchers said upskilling could have encouraged them to stay in their original role, with 70% of the Code First Girls community ranking upskilling and reskilling as the best way to retain workers and support women.

Reskilling can enable workers to not only retain their jobs, but climb up the corporate ladder. Tech Talent Charter found that only 21% of senior tech role holders are gender minorities. When asked why, 15% pointed to low diversity in the talent pool, others explained why this might be: 9% said the recruitment focus was too narrow, and 4% there was a lack of training in specialised skills, with 3% saying they had trouble in attracting diverse talent.

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While many are scared that AI will take their jobs, it can also help women avoid burnout. AI tools that reduce repetitive tasks and overall workload can help workers avoid burnout, a phenomenon that is more likely to affect women, the report says.

The report detailed three steps to build an inclusive skills programme to lessen the effects of job automation. This included workforce planning and skills mapping, building flexible skills pathways, and measuring ROI.

To further encourage women into tech, the report suggested a skills-based approach in hiring rather than based on years of experience, and allowing for training and upskilling opportunities in the company to encourage career switchers.

“In the ever-changing landscape of technology, it is crucial to create inclusive skills programs for the future,” Karen Blake, co-CEO of Tech Talent Charter said.

“By embracing diversity, we can unlock the full potential of emerging technologies and create a future where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive and make meaningful contributions. When we develop inclusive skills programs, we are not just closing gaps, we are paving the way for progress and prosperity