Generative AI is more likely to augment jobs than destroy them, though employment of women is likely to be more impacted by AI than that of men, according to a report released Aug. 21 by the International Labour Organization.  

It found only a small share of tasks in occupational groups such as managers, professionals and technicians were highly exposed to the automating effects of AI on jobs, while about a quarter had medium exposure levels. On the other hand, the job area with the highest exposure level was clerical work. 

Also, in high income countries, 5.5% of total employment is exposed to the automating effect of generative AI, but in low-income countries, only 0.4% of jobs are exposed, according to the report. On the other hand, the potential for augmentation by AI is nearly equal across countries. 

Women’s jobs will also be more impacted, with twice the share of female employment exposed to generative AI. This is because women are overrepresented in clerical work, especially in high and middle-income countries, it said. The ILO report also noted clerical jobs have traditionally been an important source of female employment as countries develop economically, and one result of generative AI could be that certain clerical jobs may never emerge in lower-income countries. 

However, the report cautioned that proper regulatory policies must be put in place or there is a risk that only some of the well-positioned countries and market participants will be able to benefit from the transition to increased AI. 

“Ultimately, we argue that in the realm of work, generative AI is neither inherently good nor bad and that its socioeconomic impacts will largely depend on how its diffusion is managed,” according to the report. “The questions of power balance, voice of the workers affected by labor market adjustments, respect for existing norms and rights, and adequate use of national social protection and skills training systems will be crucial elements for managing AI’s deployment in the workplace.”