Driving Force: Automation and the future of work (Jose Luis)

Description:

Growing automation adoption adds to the challenges that women face in the workplace. MGI research found that the share of women whose jobs are replaced by machines and will likely need to make job transitions due to automation is roughly the same as for men: up to one in four over the next decade may have to shift to a different occupation. Between 40 million and 160 million women globally may need to transition between occupations by 2030, often into higher-skill roles.

The particular challenge for women is that long-standing barriers make it harder for them to adapt to the future of work. Women and men alike need to develop (1) the skills that will be in demand; (2) the flexibility and mobility needed to negotiate labor-market transitions successfully; and (3) the access to and knowledge of technology necessary to work with automated systems, including participating in its creation. Unfortunately, women often face long-established and pervasive structural and societal barriers that could hinder them in all three of these areas.

Enablers:

• Access to education and information gives women the knowledge to work in different fields and the power to make their own choices.
• Electricity and automation facilitate day-to-day activities and allow more time to be spent on education, self-care, and work. Also, with the possibility of remote work, women can manage better their time among family and work activities.
• Access to health care and health information.
• Scientific research and medical advances.
• Economical development and better life quality (poverty reduction).

Inhibitors:

• Limiting traditions and beliefs.
• Migration.
• Conflicts and disputes.

Paradigms:

Women in leadership increase revenues and profitability. Women in the workforce have contributed to more than 25% of overall growth in GDP.

Experts:

• United Nations (UN) - https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals
• World Health Organization (WHO) - https://www.who.int/
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) - https://unece.org
• Melinda Gates - https://www.gatesfoundation.org/

Web Resources:

• https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/ten-things-to-know-about-gender-equality
• https://www.bcg.com/publications/2020/how-reskilling-can-transform-future-work-women