Algorithm and Eve: How AI will impact women at work
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)What is it?
In a recent study, female workers were 20 percentage points less likely to say they had used ChatGPT than male workers in the same occupation. While ChatGPT is just one AI tool in a rapidly-evolving market, the finding raises questions about how women’s and men’s experiences of AI at work could differ. This is the question this policy brief aims to address, drawing from the OECD working paper “Who will be the workers most affected by AI?”. The policy brief explores the gender composition of occupations highly exposed to AI and assesses women’s access to AI-related employment opportunities and to productivity-enhancing AI tools. It concludes with a set of policy options that policymakers could pursue to ensure that women and men alike can benefit from AI at work.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Employment growth from 2012 to 2022 was faster in occupations most exposed to AI, with women’s employment growth outpacing men’s, reflecting their entry into traditionally male-dominated roles.
- However, women remain underrepresented in the AI workforce, among AI users, and ICT graduates. They also report less positive perceptions of AI compared to men.
- This policy brief outlines strategies to ensure both women and men benefit equally from AI in the workplace. Key recommendations include: applying a gender lens when monitoring AI’s impact, adopting inclusive upskilling and reskilling approaches, bridging gender divides in tech, addressing AI-induced bias, and leveraging AI to combat workplace bias.