Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses operate, from handling routine paperwork to analysing data and managing customer queries. While these advances promise greater efficiency and new career opportunities, they also raise an important concern: women could face a disproportionate impact as AI automates traditional office jobs.

Women make up a significant share of the workforce in administrative, clerical and information-processing roles. These are among the areas where AI tools can automate repetitive tasks, creating uncertainty for employees whose careers depend on them. The challenge is not simply whether jobs will disappear, but whether affected workers will be able to move into new roles with comparable salaries, stability and career prospects.

Why Are Women's Jobs More Vulnerable to AI?

According to research by the International Labour Organization (ILO), women in high-income countries are disproportionately represented in occupations with high exposure to generative AI. The findings suggest that nearly one in 10 women in these countries work in jobs that face a particularly high risk of automation.

Many administrative roles involve preparing documents, maintaining records, organising information, scheduling appointments and processing routine transactions. AI systems can increasingly assist with or automate several of these activities.

Ariana Hegewisch, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Women's Policy Research, has highlighted the connection between routine office work and the growing capabilities of AI. Women have historically dominated many secretarial and clerical occupations, leaving them particularly exposed when employers introduce technology to reduce the need for manual processing.

However, exposure to AI does not automatically mean that a person will lose their job. In many cases, AI may change the nature of a role rather than eliminate it entirely. The actual impact will depend on how companies deploy the technology and whether employees receive opportunities to adapt.

The Risk Goes Beyond Losing a Job

When automation reduces demand for an established occupation, affected employees may struggle to find work that offers the same income and security. Moving into another profession can require additional training, new qualifications or a significant career change.

Economist David Autor has examined how workers' skills and career paths are closely connected to the jobs they perform. When the value of a particular skill declines, employees may find it difficult to transfer their experience into a different occupation.

This challenge can be especially significant for workers who have spent years building expertise in administrative roles. Even if new jobs emerge elsewhere, those opportunities may require different technical skills or offer lower starting salaries.

For women with family responsibilities or limited access to retraining, the transition could be particularly difficult. The availability of affordable training, career guidance and flexible working arrangements may therefore influence how successfully workers adapt to AI-driven changes.

What Happened When Telephone Operators Were Replaced by Technology?

History offers an important lesson about the unequal effects of technological change.

During the 20th century, telephone operators played a crucial role in connecting calls. In the United States, women held the overwhelming majority of these positions. The work required accuracy, speed and specialised training, and it provided a source of employment for many women.

As automated switching systems became widespread, the need for human operators gradually declined. Research by economists James Feigenbaum and Daniel P. Gross has examined how telephone automation affected employment and career opportunities.

The transition illustrates a key problem with technological progress: while automation can make a service faster and more efficient, it can also eliminate established occupations before affected workers have found alternatives.

Over time, younger workers were able to pursue opportunities in other industries. But for experienced employees whose skills were closely tied to telephone operations, the shift could mean moving into different work or leaving the occupation altogether.

The experience is relevant to the AI debate today. New opportunities may eventually emerge, but workers facing disruption now still need practical ways to secure their livelihoods.

From Washing Machines to Personal Computers: Technology Has Also Created Opportunities

Not every technological revolution has reduced women's employment opportunities. Some innovations have helped women participate more fully in the workforce.

The spread of household appliances, including washing machines, reduced the time required for certain domestic tasks. This made it easier for some women to pursue education, paid employment and other opportunities outside the home.

As the US economy expanded during the middle of the 20th century, employment opportunities also grew across retail, hospitality, childcare and office administration. Economists have examined how household technology contributed to changes in domestic work and women's participation in paid employment.

Personal computers later transformed office work. During the 1980s, millions of Americans worked as secretaries, stenographers and typists, and women accounted for the vast majority of these employees.

Word-processing software and other computer tools changed how documents were created and managed. Some tasks previously performed by dedicated administrative staff could now be completed directly by managers and other employees.

At the same time, computers introduced new ways to work, communicate and develop professional skills. Employees who adapted to the changing workplace could use these tools to take on different responsibilities.

The lesson is that technology can both displace workers and create opportunities. The outcome depends on how quickly new roles emerge, what skills they require and whether existing workers can access them.

Can New AI Jobs Make Up for the Employment Losses?

One of the biggest questions surrounding AI is whether the jobs it creates will be sufficient to offset the work it automates.

AI is generating demand for capabilities in areas such as data analysis, technology implementation, AI oversight, cybersecurity and digital operations. It may also allow employees to spend less time on repetitive work and more time on tasks requiring judgement, communication and problem-solving.

However, new opportunities may not automatically go to people whose jobs are affected. A worker experienced in maintaining records may need additional training to qualify for a data-focused or technology-related position. Even when retraining is possible, the transition can take time and may involve financial uncertainty.

Research into workplace software has also highlighted that technology can affect different groups of workers in different ways. Some employees may benefit from higher productivity and improved earnings, while others may face reduced demand for their existing skills.

Higher education and access to managerial positions may help some women navigate this transition. Nevertheless, the growing ability of AI to perform tasks associated with more complex professional roles means that the risks cannot be limited to entry-level or routine office work alone.

What Can Companies Do to Protect Workers?

Employers have an important role to play in ensuring that AI adoption does not unnecessarily push experienced employees out of the workforce.

Companies can invest in reskilling programmes, helping administrative staff learn to use AI tools and move into roles that require greater judgement and oversight. They can also redesign jobs so that technology supports employees rather than simply replacing their responsibilities.

Governments and educational institutions can contribute by expanding access to affordable digital training, career-transition support and programmes that prepare workers for emerging occupations.

For individual employees, developing digital literacy, data interpretation, communication and problem-solving skills can help improve adaptability. Learning how to use AI tools within an existing profession may also open up new opportunities.

Importantly, the responsibility should not fall entirely on workers. Employers must consider the human consequences of automation and provide realistic pathways for employees to adapt.

The Bigger Question: Who Will Benefit From the AI Revolution?

Artificial intelligence could improve productivity, create new industries and change how millions of people work. But the benefits will not necessarily be distributed equally.

Women may face greater exposure to job disruption because of their concentration in occupations involving routine administrative tasks. At the same time, the scale of the impact will vary by industry, country, workplace and the way AI is implemented.

The real challenge is not simply preventing technology from advancing. It is ensuring that workers have the opportunity to participate in the new economy rather than being left behind by it.

If businesses combine AI adoption with meaningful training, fair hiring practices and support for career transitions, technology could become a tool for expanding opportunities. Without those measures, the productivity gains of AI could come at a significant cost to workers whose jobs change first.