Occupations with Higher Proportions of Women May Be More Susceptible to AI Automation

While JSA calculates automation exposure scores for various occupations, the findings revealed that occupations with high scores include a large number of women.

Of the top 20 occupations with the highest risk of automation, 15 were occupations where women make up the majority.

Clerical work is also cited as one of the occupations most susceptible to the impact of automation. According to the report, over 70% of clerical workers are women, and the sector provides employment opportunities for nearly one in five women in the Australian workforce.

On the other hand, looking at the top 20 occupations with low automation impact, 17 were occupations dominated by men. Only three occupations with a high proportion of women remained: domestic cleaners, commercial cleaners, and massage therapists.

Risse and her colleagues pointed out that occupations affected by automation tend to have seen a decrease in job openings over the past three years.

For example, while the total number of job openings in June 2026 decreased by approximately 1.7% year-on-year, job openings for secretaries and bookkeepers saw a significant decline of about 22%.

The research team stated that incorporating a gender perspective into AI policy could support a gender-equal economy and a resilient labor market.