Women more likely than men to be affected by automation, Statistics Canada study says

OTTAWA — A Statistics Canada study says women are more likely than men to face a risk of their jobs being affected by automation.

The results released Thursday are based on a 2016 Longitudinal and International Study of Adults conducted before COVID-19, which the agency says may accelerate workplace automation.

Men and women were equally likely to face a high risk of automation-related job transformation, at 11 per cent. However, 44 per cent of woman were likely to face a moderate to high risk, compared with nearly 35 per cent for men.

Men aged 55 or older were also less likely to face a moderate to high risk compared with women in the same age group, at a rate of 34 per cent for men and 59 per cent for women.

And 76 per cent of women with no post-secondary qualifications faced the automation risk, compared with 60 per cent of men.

Women with a disability who were not unionized or who worked in a firm of 10 or few employees were also more likely than their male counterparts to face a moderate to high risk.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020.

The Canadian Press