Women workers are more likely to be impacted by generative AI than male workers, a UN report tracking the rate of automation across different industries found.

In high-income countries, jobs at the highest risk of automation make 9.6% of female employment, much higher than the 3.5% of such jobs among men.

The research, from the UN International Labour Organisation, found that clerical jobs were facing the highest exposure of all, due to GenAI’s potential to automate many of their tasks.

However, these expanding AI capabilities could result in increased exposure of some highly digitised cognitive jobs in media, software, and finance occupations.

The report, however, found that full job automation remains limited, since many tasks, though done more efficiently, continue to require human involvement.

The study also highlighted the divergent paths of occupations that are accustomed to fast-paced digital transformation – like software engineers – and jobs that have less baseline digital skills, which are more likely to deal with negative effects of AI’s rise.

Overall, 25% of global employment falls within occupations potentially exposed to GenAI, which higher shares in high-income countries (34%).

Recommended reading

• 96% Of Firms Are Deploying AI Models
• Report: More than Half of Firms Regret Cutting Jobs for AI
• AI Has Moved From Experimentation to Execution in Enterprise IT

“This index helps identify where GenAI is likely to have the biggest impact, so countries can better prepare and protect workers. Our next step is to apply this new index to detailed labour force data from Poland” said Marek Troszyński, senior expert at NASK – Poland’s National Research Institute – and one of co-authors of the new paper.

The research paper does emphasise that the figures reflect potential exposure, not actual job losses. GenAI, the report argues, is more likely to transform jobs than eliminate them altogether.

“It’s easy to get lost in the AI hype. What we need is clarity and context. This tool helps countries across the world assess potential exposure and prepare their labour markets for a fairer digital future,” explained Janine Berg, Senior Economist at the ILO.

The report therefore calls on governments, firms, and workers’ organisations to shape proactive inclusive strategies that can enhance productivity and job quality.

Don’t Miss Scotland’s Biggest Tech Event!

Join us at DIGIT Expo West on 5th June at the SEC Glasgow. Get leading industry insights across AI, Cyber Security, and Data, and grow your network at Scotland’s largest gathering of tech leaders – with 1500+ attendees, 50+ speakers, and 50+ exhibitors.

Register your FREE place now at www.digitexpowest.com