Technology has always been seen as a great enabler that paves the path to economic progress for many countries around the world. However,
According to the report, women might face a greater threat of losing their jobs to technology than their male counterparts. Up to 26 million women in major economies would be at risk of getting their jobs displaced within the next two
The occupational divides seem to be the primary disparity, with women disproportionately represented in low-skilled, clerical and sales roles that are routine-heavy and therefore prone to automation. The report said that this could be attributed to “self-selection” — women choosing certain professions — as well as exposure.
“We find that women, on average, perform more routine or codifiable
“Moreover, women perform fewer tasks requiring analytical input or abstract thinking (e.g., information-processing skills), where technological change can be complementary to human skills and improve
Meanwhile, the report also found oldest, less well-educated women to be at the greatest risk of job automation, adding that recent decades have seen more young women shift away from clerical and low-skilled occupations toward service and professional jobs, CNBC reports.
“Women are increasingly selecting into jobs that are more insulated from displacement by technology,” the report said.
“Gender automation gaps between men and women are smaller for younger cohorts even among workers facing the highest risk of automation (e.g., less-well educated, in clerical and sales positions).”
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