A recent survey conducted by Cognizant, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, reveals growing concerns among women regarding the impact of generative AI on job security and career progression.
According to the study, women are more apprehensive than their male counterparts about the potential negative effects of generative AI on their employment, with 90 percent of all jobs expected to be influenced by technology over the next decade.
The data suggested that women who have made significant strides in white-collar professions could face a disproportionate risk of job disruption or displacement due to generative AI. Goldman Sachs research supported this, noting that 79 percent of working women are in roles highly susceptible to automation and AI disruption, compared to 58 percent of men. This vulnerability is attributed to the higher concentration of women in white-collar jobs.
Cognizant’s research further broke down the risk, assigning exposure scores to 1,000 jobs based on the percentage of tasks within those jobs that could be automated or assisted by generative AI. Jobs traditionally held by women, such as administrative assistants, customer service representatives, marketing managers, and various roles within healthcare, are identified as having high exposure scores, indicating a significant risk of AI-driven disruption within the next decade.
In light of these findings, Cognizant emphasized the need for businesses to implement measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of generative AI on female employees. Suggestions included launching extensive reskilling programs which aim to empower women with fundamental AI skills and knowledge. Additionally, the company advocated for workplace supports that acknowledge the caregiving responsibilities often shouldered by women, alongside redistributing generative AI gains to benefit employees and society at large.
The report underscored the importance of a new trust compact to balance the negative impacts of generative AI with its potential benefits, highlighting the urgency for businesses to act in safeguarding women from bearing an unfair share of the disruptive consequences.