Why AI will hurt women's income more than men

Why AI will hurt women's income more than men
McKinsey report warns that women are more likely to need to change occupation than men as automation intensifies in the coming years.
JUL 26, 2023

Women have more to worry about than men from a coming wave of automation and artificial intelligence that could replace almost a third of hours worked across the US economy.

That’s one of the takeaways from a new report by the research arm of consultants McKinsey & Co. that examines US labor-market trends through the end of 2030. 

It calculated that women are 1.5 times more likely to need to move into a new occupation than men during that period. The reason: They’re over-represented in the industries with lower-wage jobs the report reckons will be most impacted by automation, including office support and customer service. Blacks and Hispanics will also be adversely affected as demand for food and production workers shrinks.

In all, the McKinsey Global Institute said that at least 12 million workers in the US will need to change occupations by the end of 2030. Some of that turnover will stem from the drive for net-zero emissions, which will disrupt millions of jobs.  

What’s concerning, said Institute director Kweilin Ellingrud, is that the churn will be concentrated among low-wage workers. They’re up to 14 times more likely to need to change occupations than those in the highest-wage positions, and most will need additional skills to do so successfully.

White-collar workers – everything from lawyers and teachers to financial advisers and architects — will be among those most affected by the spread of generative artificial intelligence such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, according to the report. But McKinsey argued that will largely result in changes in how those jobs are carried out, rather than in the destruction of huge swathes of positions.

It “probably won’t be that kind of catastrophic thing,” institute partner Michael Chui said. But “it is going to change almost every job.”

Some 3.5 million positions could be wiped out as the US seeks to end emissions of greenhouse gases, with workers in oil and gas production and automotive manufacturing taking the hit, according to the report. 

But McKinsey argued that will be more than offset – to the tune of about 700,000 jobs — by gains stemming from the build-up of renewable energy, primarily though capital investments in new plants, charging stations and the like.  

The energy transition, coupled with stepped-up government spending on infrastructure, will increase demand for construction workers who are already in short supply. McKinsey sees construction employment growing 12% from 2022 through 2030.

If the reshuffling of jobs in coming years is handled correctly, it could result in a huge increase in US productivity and prosperity, according to the institute. In what Ellingrud admitted was a “pretty optimistic” scenario, the report posits an eventual rise in annual productivity growth to 3% to 4%. It’s about 1% now.

To get there, though, “the US will need workforce development on a far larger scale,” McKinsey said.

Latest News

Newsom wants nationwide billionaires tax as presidential bid may loom on the horizon
Newsom wants nationwide billionaires tax as presidential bid may loom on the horizon

“It’s time for an economic reset,” wrote the California governor, in a post on X.

Maryland regulators spank fledgling art-focused RIA Masterworks over registration snafus
Maryland regulators spank fledgling art-focused RIA Masterworks over registration snafus

Masterworks was launched in 2017 but its RIA, Masterworks Advisers, is just three years old.

Investors allege Miami operator took over $1.5 million in EB-5 scheme
Investors allege Miami operator took over $1.5 million in EB-5 scheme

One 2017 form, no broker license, and a $42 million gap they say surfaced on a webinar.

Gen X, millennials lag in retirement confidence amid knowledge gap
Gen X, millennials lag in retirement confidence amid knowledge gap

Fewer than half of Americans in their peak earning years feel on track for retirement, while many say limited financial knowledge and access to professional guidance are holding them back.

Advisor moves: Veteran-led UBS team overseeing $460 million migrates to Merrill
Advisor moves: Veteran-led UBS team overseeing $460 million migrates to Merrill

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo hauled advisors overseeing $825 million in the West Coast, while Wedbush has welcomed a seasoned professional from Stifel in California.

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income

SPONSORED Why direct indexing stopped being optional

Direct indexing is on pace to outgrow ETFs and mutual funds. Northern Trust's Ken Lassner explains why the advisors who get it wish they had started sooner.