Women are twice as likely to lose their jobs to robots as men are, according to a new report.
The study, conducted by London think tank IPPR, found that nearly two thirds (64%) of British workers in industries at high risk from automation are women. That is because women are more likely to work in retail and administrative jobs that could be done by machines.
In total, one in 10 female workers are at high risk of being squeezed out of their jobs by robots, IPPR concluded. In contrast, just four percent of male workers are in the danger zone.
But that doesn’t mean automation should be stopped. Instead, Carys Roberts, chief economist at IPPR and lead author of the report, said the government should do more to enable females to pursue high-skilled tech jobs.
“The Government — and the new Prime Minister — needs to engage fully with business and industry to accelerate automation across the UK economy, with all the advantages that will bring,” Roberts said.
“But the new PM needs to enable working women to lead that process so that they are not further disadvantaged in the workplace. He will also need to act to ensure that women both young and older are able to access the good new jobs of the future, and share fully in the benefits these changes will bring.”
The think-tank said if firms fail to reach targets of 30% women on boards by 2020, then new laws should be introduced to force a 50-50 split by 2025.
The IPPR also called for the minimum wage in the UK to be increased.
Source: Nypost
