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It is no secret that technology is reshaping the labor market in profound ways. But what may not always be as obvious is that these changes disproportionately impact women. In fact, the 2019 IWPR report Women, Automation, and the Future of Work found that while women made up less than half (47 percent) of the workforce, they accounted for 58 percent of workers at the highest risk of automation.
The introduction of ChatGPT in 2022 gave rise to various generative AI tools with unique functions, such as content creation (i.e., writing or creating original images), human-like communication, and interactive learning and tutoring, all of which have accelerated the impact of these technological advancements on the workforce further. Though still limited to mostly very large organizations across all industries, many business functions—such as marketing and sales, product and service development, software engineering, and other information technology-related tasks—have already begun to use generative AI.
There is no shortage of examples of the quality of products or services declining due to poorly implemented AI tools (just think of the frustrating experience of dealing with the bank’s chatbot while urgently trying to resolve an issue with your account). However, these developments also enhance overall productivity and generate more value for organizations, making a strong business case for their continued expansion. But how will these advancements in technology impact female-dominated occupations, and why is it critical to center gender equity in this transformation?
Generative AI will shape and displace jobs predominantly done by women.
- Administrative and clerical work: Occupations in this space are highly likely to be automated through AI-driven scheduling and other document generation tools.
- Customer service jobs: Chatbots and AI-driven virtual assistants are already common in customer care and are capable of handling routine inquiries, reducing the demand for human agents.
- Marketing and digital content creation: Generative AI tools can generate sales pitches, promotional campaigns, and marketing materials, which may lead to reduced demand for workers in this space.
Policymakers, employers, and workforce development systems have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to invest in new skills training that would enable workers to transition to a different job or industry. It’s essential that this reskilling is inclusive and equitable, especially for women, who are often disproportionately affected by automation and digital transformations and are more likely to face displacement due to generative AI.
Generative AI has the potential to alleviate the administrative burden in interactive, female-majority service jobs, freeing up time for meaningful interactions.
- Education: Generative AI tools can generate lesson plans, quizzes, and assessments for teachers. However, the human element is critical in teaching—teachers’ guidance and mentorship, as well as classroom management, remain irreplaceable.
- Health care support: AI systems can reduce the administrative burden by streamlining patient communication and care coordination, freeing up time for patient-facing tasks.
Because these developments will change the nature of jobs in this space, policymakers, employers, and workforce development systems need to invest in upskilling programs. Providing opportunities to acquire skills necessary for adapting to industry developments or technological changes in current roles can empower workers in these female-majority jobs to benefit from AI as a valuable supplement.
Conversations around AI disruptions are often limited to AI’s potential power to replace humans. However, the advancements in generative AI will also create new job opportunities.
- Roles such as prompt engineers, AI trainers, AI ethics officers, and human-AI collaboration designers are emerging rapidly.
- There is a growing demand for individuals who can curate training data and review and fine-tune generative AI outputs.
- Jobs that center on integrating AI into existing professions and occupations, such as AI education specialists, are becoming increasingly common.
It is important for women to have access to these new roles, opening pathways to well-paying careers in a generative AI era.
Reskilling and upskilling must ensure that women and underrepresented and marginalized groups have equal opportunities for advancement. As generative AI evolves, systems should reflect diverse perspectives. While gender inequities already exist in AI adoption, it is essential to design reskilling and upskilling pathways that are accessible and inclusive. There is a role to play in this not only for higher education and employers, but also for policymakers and funders. Investments in digital literacy, particularly for female-dominated or female-majority roles, gender-aware curriculum design, and workforce planning are all critical elements in ensuring that AI enhancements create new economic opportunities for all, rather than exacerbating existing gender inequalities in economic mobility and opportunity.