At Unite’s equalities conference in Blackpool, leading women activists discussed how women’s jobs are likely to be disproportionately affected by new technology and artificial intelligence. Contributor Sharon Graham, Executive Officer – Unite.

Unite represents over 300,000 women members and will consult on its political and industrial strategy to ensure a future that works for women. New technologies and artificial intelligence pose real risks to employment in sectors with significant proportions of women workers including health, financial services, local authorities and civil air transport (see notes to editors).

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, a new report predicted 1.4 million U.S. jobs will be at risk from technology between now and 2026. Almost 60 percent of these are jobs currently performed by women. Sharon Graham, Unite Executive Officer said: “Women’s jobs are likely be hit hardest by this latest wave of automation, but in the right hands new technology could be a force for good.

“So, Unite is developing a political and industrial strategy to build a future that works for women. New technology is going to generate a lot of wealth. We will fight for women to escape the sticky floor of low paid work, and to make sure this wealth is used to do things that help women and their families, such as reducing working time without loss of pay.”