In 2026, women are significantly more represented in AI-vulnerable jobs, and that’s the one place they aren’t looking for representation. A new report from the National Partnership for Women & Families confirmed what many have suspected for a while now: women, and women of color in particular, make up more than 30% of workers in the jobs that are at risk from AI. Not only are they at greater risk of being displaced by AI, but these industries are also roles where workers are the least likely to be able to adapt and transition to new work. NPWF’s findings on how AI is disrupting the lives of women and their jobs are essential reading in an era where AI advancements are seemingly proceeding at the speed of light.
AI-vulnerable jobs are more widely dominated by women, putting them at a disadvantage in the era of sweeping technological change. (Image: Pexels)
Women Face Significant Risk in the Workplace Holding AI-Vulnerable Jobs
The NPWF report on women working jobs threatened by AI found that women make up more than 8 in 10 workers in the most AI-vulnerable occupations. The study showed that white women, Latinas, and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women make up nearly double their shares of the most AI-vulnerable jobs in comparison to the overall workforce. Black and multiracial women’s shares of the most AI-vulnerable jobs are more than one and a half times larger than their shares of the workforce overall.
NPWF also explained that while women made up less than half of all workers in the workforce, they made up 83% of the workers in the 15 most AI-vulnerable jobs. These are not just statistics and data but quantitative proof that women are at risk of losing their jobs to AI at a much larger rate compared to the rest of the workforce.
“AI is beginning to influence and change American workplaces, at a time when we still have so much work to do to create workspaces that are equitable and fair for women, especially women of color,” Jocelyn Frye, President of the NPWF, explained in the report. “Because women are significantly overrepresented in positions such as secretaries, office clerks, and receptionists, they will be uniquely affected by this technology. Without clear standards and accountability, we risk reinforcing the same inequities that have shaped our economy for decades.”
There Are Multiple Reports That Direct Attention Towards the Impact of AI on Women in the Workforce
In an earlier study by the Brookings Institution, data showed that of all the employees at risk of losing work to AI, over 6 million would struggle due to their age, limited savings, and other related factors. Most of these workers were found in clerical and administrative jobs, and as data shows, women tend to occupy such positions to a larger degree. Similarly, a report was shared by the International Labour Organization (ILO) earlier this year, when the institution took a closer look at occupational segregation and gender equality in the world of work. Their report showed that women were disproportionately affected by the rise of generative AI for three reasons.
First, they were overrepresented in the jobs that were more susceptible to automation via this technology. Second, women were underrepresented in AI-related and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. Despite growing interest in the field and women increasingly taking to studies in these industries, the composition of the workforce remains skewed. Third, the report found that these AI systems themselves were proponents of the gender bias that was embedded in societies, pushing existing imbalances further with their use.
The data confirms other reports we have seen of AI tools perpetuating pre-existing biases and discriminatory advice further. Data shows that when employees use AI tools to understand what the industry standard pay is for a role, the tools are likely to recommend that women ask for much lower salaries than the advice they present to men. Such discrete differences may not be apparent to individual users, but they signal larger concerns with the technology when viewed from a broader perspective.
Why Is It Important for Employers to Understand How Women Are Disproportionately Affected by AI?
As with any technology, it is important to fully understand its impact to ensure you set safeguards in place to protect your business and the workers who run it. Women comprise a significant portion of the workforce, and they undertake numerous unappreciated tasks that often go unnoticed, making their presence vital to daily operations. With their extensive educational backgrounds, they bring new insights and perspectives into the organization’s operations. Ignoring this causes a business to lose out on vital talent.
Most workers can be seen struggling to keep up with artificial intelligence and the many ways that it is altering the workforce. But women who are already at a disadvantage due to the motherhood penalty and unequal pay scales are likely to face greater challenges in this AI-dominated era of employment. Protecting women who are in AI-vulnerable jobs not only helps with talent retention but also ensures economic stability for their families and working partners, as dual-income households are the norm today.
Supporting women in expanding their access to education, upskilling, and ensuring they are fairly considered for opportunities in the workplace are essential considerations for any business. With the dissolution of DEI further pressuring women to prove that they have earned their positions just the same as any employee, now is the time to ensure that the imbalances that persist are understood and set right. Protections aren’t a way to give them an advantage but instead a path towards securing their rights and interests, ensuring responsible use of emerging technology every step of the way.
What do you think about this data on women and their overrepresentation in AI-vulnerable jobs? Share your thoughts with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.
