US Workers in Female-Dominated Fields Most Vulnerable to AI Job Displacement, Study Finds
Researchers warn that employees in occupations traditionally held by women are particularly at risk of job loss due to the impact of artificial intelligence on the American workforce. According to a recent report from the Brookings Institution and the Centre for the Governance of AI, workers in fields such as clerical and administrative roles face significant disruption from AI, with millions struggling to adapt.
The study highlights the disproportionate vulnerability of women in these occupations, with over 6 million workers at risk due to their age, limited savings, and other factors. These jobs have long been under attack by advancements in information technology, which has displaced human workers for decades.
Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution, notes that these roles have historically been "under attack" for years. The report indicates that 86% of the roughly 6 million workers facing job loss and finding new positions are women, highlighting how their job functions rather than their competency as workers contribute to this vulnerability.
On the other hand, researchers suggest that workers in fields like marketing, finance, and science may be better positioned to adapt to AI, with 70% likely to pivot into comparable roles if displaced. These sectors have more technical and managerial roles that require diverse skills, making it easier for them to leverage their capabilities.
Experts caution that while AI is expected to have a profound impact on the workplace, its current effect on the US labor market appears relatively minor. Firms may not be quickly replacing workers with AI, according to Ben May, director of global macro research at Oxford Economics.
Researchers warn that employees in occupations traditionally held by women are particularly at risk of job loss due to the impact of artificial intelligence on the American workforce. According to a recent report from the Brookings Institution and the Centre for the Governance of AI, workers in fields such as clerical and administrative roles face significant disruption from AI, with millions struggling to adapt.
The study highlights the disproportionate vulnerability of women in these occupations, with over 6 million workers at risk due to their age, limited savings, and other factors. These jobs have long been under attack by advancements in information technology, which has displaced human workers for decades.
Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution, notes that these roles have historically been "under attack" for years. The report indicates that 86% of the roughly 6 million workers facing job loss and finding new positions are women, highlighting how their job functions rather than their competency as workers contribute to this vulnerability.
On the other hand, researchers suggest that workers in fields like marketing, finance, and science may be better positioned to adapt to AI, with 70% likely to pivot into comparable roles if displaced. These sectors have more technical and managerial roles that require diverse skills, making it easier for them to leverage their capabilities.
Experts caution that while AI is expected to have a profound impact on the workplace, its current effect on the US labor market appears relatively minor. Firms may not be quickly replacing workers with AI, according to Ben May, director of global macro research at Oxford Economics.