AI’s silent disruption: Why women’s jobs are at greater risk

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates its march into workplaces, it is women’s jobs that stand most vulnerable – particularly in high-income economies, according to a new report by the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO).

The report warns that almost 10 per cent of traditionally female-dominated roles are expected to be transformed by AI, compared to just 3.5 per cent of those typically held by men. Clerical and administrative roles – think secretarial work, data entry, and office support – where women have historically been overrepresented, are especially exposed as generative AI technologies become capable of automating routine tasks.

Yet, the ILO is careful to stress that exposure does not equal immediate job loss. Instead, it signals the reshaping of roles, where human workers may see tasks reallocated or augmented by AI systems. In fact, across media, software, and financial sectors, workers of all genders will feel the ripple effects of AI’s expanding learning capabilities.

A gendered shift in high-skill occupations

Interestingly, over the past decade, women have been leading growth in high-skill occupations, according to the ILO’s World Economic and Social Outlook (May 2025 Update). Women have surpassed men in moving into high-skill jobs such as professional roles and technical positions. Between 2013 and 2023, the share of women in high-skill employment rose from 21.2 per cent to 23.2 per cent, compared to an increase from 17.5 per cent to 18 per cent among men.

However, this progress comes with a paradox. While more women are breaking into skilled professions, the types of tasks they perform – particularly in clerical and administrative functions – are among the most susceptible to AI automation. For instance, the report notes that general office clerks and contact centre workers, many of whom are women, fall into the category of high exposure to generative AI.

The call for inclusive action

The ILO is urging governments, employers, and workers’ organisations to engage in forward-looking dialogue about how AI can be harnessed to enhance productivity without deepening inequality. This includes investing in training and upskilling programmes that ensure women are not disproportionately displaced, but instead prepared for evolving workplace demands.

With nearly one in four workers worldwide in occupations that could see significant transformation due to AI, the stakes are high. But the risks are not evenly distributed. For business leaders, especially in Malta’s rapidly digitising economy, the message is clear: the future of work is not just about technology – it is about inclusion.

Ensuring that AI’s rollout improves, rather than erodes, job quality for women will be crucial to fostering resilient, diverse, and forward-thinking workplaces.