Women face greater risks from generative AI, warns ILO report

Women are set to be disproportionately affected by the rise of generative artificial intelligence, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization.

The research brief, published on 5 March 2026, finds that female-dominated occupations are almost twice as likely to be exposed to generative AI as those dominated by men. While the technology is expected to boost productivity and create new jobs, its impact on the labour market is far from gender-neutral.

Female-dominated roles most exposed

Across countries analysed, around 29 per cent of female-dominated occupations are exposed to generative AI, compared with 16 per cent of male-dominated roles. The disparity is even more pronounced at the highest levels of automation risk, where 16 per cent of women’s jobs fall into this category, compared with just 3 per cent of men’s.

The report links this gap to long-standing patterns of occupational segregation. Women are more likely to work in clerical, administrative and business support roles, including secretarial and payroll positions, where tasks are routine and easier to automate. Men, by contrast, are more heavily represented in construction, manufacturing and manual trades, which are less susceptible to automation.

In 88 per cent of countries studied, women face higher exposure to generative AI than men. In several economies, including the United Kingdom, more than 40 per cent of women’s employment is exposed to the technology. High-income countries overall show significantly higher exposure rates, reflecting differences in job structures and levels of digital development.

Unequal access to AI opportunities

Anam Butt, a co-author of the report, said generative AI is entering a labour market already shaped by inequality. She pointed to discriminatory social norms, unequal care responsibilities and labour market policies that continue to influence the types of jobs women and men hold.

The report also highlights a persistent gender gap in access to emerging opportunities. Women accounted for around 30 per cent of the global AI workforce in 2022, a modest increase from 2016. They remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics roles, particularly in high-demand fields such as engineering and software development.

This imbalance, the report argues, limits women’s ability to benefit from new jobs and skills linked to AI, while also reducing diversity and innovation within the sector.

Risk of reinforcing bias

The study further warns that generative AI systems can reinforce existing biases. Because such technologies are developed within current social and economic structures, they may replicate patterns of discrimination found in training data. Evidence already shows that biased systems can disadvantage women in recruitment, pay decisions and access to services, with compounded effects for those facing multiple forms of discrimination.

Policy choices will shape outcomes

Despite these risks, the ILO stresses that the main impact of generative AI is likely to be on job quality rather than overall job numbers. The technology could intensify workloads, increase monitoring and reduce autonomy, but it also has the potential to improve working conditions and support better work-life balance if used responsibly.

Janine Berg, senior economist at the ILO and co-author of the report, said the outcome is not predetermined. She emphasised that appropriate policies, social dialogue and gender-responsive design could prevent the technology from reinforcing existing inequalities.

The report concludes that decisions taken now will shape whether generative AI becomes a force for greater equality or deepens existing divides. It calls for stronger labour market institutions, improved access to skills for women and greater representation in AI-related roles to ensure a more inclusive future of work.

For further information, visit https://www.ilo.org