….roles includes female-dominated professions such as typists, payroll clerks, and receptionists
A new report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has warned that women are twice as likely to be affected by the disruptive force of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) than their male counterparts.
High-risk roles includes female-dominated professions such as typists, payroll clerks, and receptionists. Conversely, male-dominated high-exposure roles are largely concentrated in the lucrative ICT and software development sectors, where AI is more likely to be used as a tool for growth rather than a replacement for headcount.
According to the findings from the report titled: GenAI, Occupational Segregation and Gender Equality in the World of Work, this threatens to widen the global gender pay gap and entrench existing inequalities.
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The report identifies entrenched “pink-collar” segregation as the primary driver of this risk. Women remain heavily overrepresented in administrative, clerical, and secretarial roles, the very sectors where GenAI excels at processing data, translating text, and managing schedules.
A tale of two sectors
The report analysed 436 global occupations, revealing a stark divide in exposure. While only 16 percent of male-dominated roles face significant disruption, that figure climbs to 29 percent for female-dominated sectors.
Regional disparities are also prominent. High-income nations, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland, see up to 41 percent of jobs exposed to AI. While lower-income regions currently show less exposure (roughly 11 percent), which is often a reflection of lower digital infrastructure and a lack of access to formal service sectors.
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In Nigeria, the impact of GenAI presents a double-edged sword. While Africa and Asia currently report the lowest levels of immediate AI exposure due to the high concentration of the workforce in agriculture, manual labour, and the informal economy in general, the growing Nigerian tech and service sectors are at a crossroads.
The authors of the study argue that the future of work is not yet cast in stone, provided that policymakers act with urgency.
“Generative AI is not entering a neutral labour market,” noted Anam Butt, co-author of the study. “Discriminatory social norms, unequal care responsibilities, and labour market policies continue to shape who enters which occupations. Consequently, women face higher risks but fewer opportunities from this technological shift”, she said.
Janine Berg, a senior economist and co-author, echoed the need for a human-centred approach to technology saying, “The impact of generative AI on women’s jobs is not predetermined. With gender-responsive design, inclusive policies, and social dialogue, we can prevent AI from reinforcing existing inequalities.”
The ILO emphasises that GenAI is unlikely to destroy jobs entirely but will fundamentally alter tasks.
For women to benefit, there must be a concerted effort to bridge the STEM gap in Nigeria and globally and ensure that AI governance is built on the foundations of gender equality. Without such interventions, the “glass ceiling” may soon be replaced by a “silicon barrier” that proves even harder to shatter.
