The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape the job market, with women potentially facing the brunt of the impact. Historical patterns of technological advancement, from the automation of telephone switchboards to the introduction of personal computers, suggest that women are often disproportionately affected by such changes.
In the mid-20th century, the role of the telephone switch operator was predominantly held by women, with nearly 95% of operators being female in the 1940s. This job, which required precision and politeness, was a well-paying position for women at the time. However, the introduction of automated telephone switches by AT&T led to a significant reduction in these jobs, with an estimated 75,000 positions disappearing as a result. Economists James Feigenbaum and Daniel P. Gross found that many of these women ended up in lower-paying jobs or left the workforce entirely.
Despite the initial job losses, the next generation of women found opportunities in other fields, adapting to the evolving labor market. This adaptability was also evident when household appliances like washing machines reduced the time women spent on unpaid housework, enabling them to enter the workforce in greater numbers. From 1950 to 1980, the number of employed women in the U. S. increased by over 25 million, with their participation rate rising from 34% to 52%.
The introduction of personal computers in the 1980s marked another significant shift. Prior to PCs, women were the backbone of office infrastructure, with nearly 4.7 million working as secretaries, stenographers, and typists. The arrival of PCs and software like Microsoft Word shifted many clerical tasks to other office workers, but it also provided women with new tools and opportunities to enhance their roles. Studies showed that women were more likely than men to use computers at work during this period, allowing them to remain valuable assets to their employers.
Today, AI is expected to have a similar disruptive effect, particularly on clerical and administrative jobs, which are predominantly held by women. A report by the International Labour Organization in March highlighted that nearly one in 10 women in high-income countries work in occupations at high risk from AI. Ariane Hegewisch, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Women's Policy Research, noted that AI's focus on routine tasks and pattern recognition makes clerical jobs especially vulnerable.
However, the impact of AI may not be entirely negative. While some tasks may be eliminated, AI has the potential to enhance the efficiency of remaining jobs, allowing workers to focus on more value-added tasks. A 2022 study by Marcus Dillender and Eliza Forsythe found that the adoption of software for office work led to a slight decline in employment but also resulted in a 3% increase in wages for college graduates. This suggests that those with higher education levels, including many women, might be better positioned to adapt to the changes brought by AI.
Yet, the future remains uncertain. AI's ability to learn and move up the value chain of human-performed jobs poses a potential threat to even higher-skilled positions. As AI continues to evolve, the challenge will be to ensure that the workforce, particularly women who have historically been more affected by technological shifts, can adapt and thrive in the new landscape.
