Archive · 25 Dec 2025
AI Threatens Jobs Held by Women
A recent study by the United Nations shows that artificial intelligence (AI) is growing very fast in Asia and the Pacific.
This region has a big difference between rich and poor countries, which affects who benefits from AI and who faces risks.
AI could help the economy grow and make work more productive, but not everyone will benefit equally.
Women's jobs are almost twice as likely to be taken by machines compared to men's jobs.
Young people, especially those just starting their careers, are also at risk.
In South Asia, women are less likely to own smartphones, which makes it harder for them to use AI.
Rural and indigenous communities are often not included in the data that trains AI, which can lead to unfair treatment.
The study warns that without careful planning, AI could make the gap between rich and poor even bigger.
AI is advancing rapidly in Asia and the Pacific, with the region accounting for over half of global AI users and nearly 70% of AI patents.
AI could boost GDP growth by about two percentage points and increase productivity by up to five percent in key sectors.
Women's jobs are nearly twice as exposed to automation compared to men's jobs.
Youth employment is declining in high-AI-exposure roles, especially for those aged 22–25.
In South Asia, women are up to 40% less likely than men to own a smartphone, exacerbating digital divides.
- Who
- Women, young people, and rural and indigenous communities in Asia and the Pacific
- What
- AI's impact on jobs and inequality
- When
- Present and future
- Where
- Asia and the Pacific
- Why
- Due to uneven access to technology and digital skills
- Region
- Asia and the Pacific
- Global AI Users
- More than half
- AI Patents
- Nearly 70 percent
- Potential GDP Growth
- About two percentage points
- Potential Productivity Increase
- Up to five percent in key sectors
- Women's Job Exposure to Automation
- Nearly twice as exposed as men
- Youth Employment Decline
- Especially for those aged 22–25
- Women's Smartphone Ownership in South Asia
- Up to 40% less likely than men