Females and Automation: an rising challenge
McKinsey Global Institute predicts that as many as 160 million women will need to change jobs in the age of automation. That is nearly one-quarter of all women who are employed today.
The problem is not who automation is going to impact: the number of women and men is very similar. The critical point is how well individuals are prepared to adapt to their new reality. If women are properly supported, they can transition into more productive, higher paying work. However, if this support opportunity is missed, the gender pay gap may widen, as the need for lower-paid jobs, which are currently occupied by mainly women, decreases and more women leave the workforce[DTS1] .
Instead of starting this training when women are already part of the workforce, it is important to pave the way earlier. Future-relevant fields like IT and science must become more attractive to women. Sparking this interest in childhood and fostering it during high school will allow for a future-ready female workforce.