Khaleej Times

Robots may take 30% of UK jobs, women at ‘lower risk’

- Sally Hayden

london — Up to one-third of British jobs could be taken over by robots by the early 2030s, impacting 10 million Britons but with women less likely to face redundancy, a UK study showed on Friday.

The research, by accountanc­y firm Pricewater­houseCoope­rs, found 30 per cent of UK jobs could face automation compared to 38 per cent in the United States, 35 per cent in Germany, and 21 per cent in Japan.

Researcher­s, however, said this wouldn’t necessaril­y lead to less employment as jobs may change rather than disappear.

But the distinctio­n between men and women was clear, with PwC estimating 35 per cent of men’s jobs were at risk compared to 26 per cent of women’s because of the high number of women in sectors requiring social skills like education and health.

Male workers are also more concentrat­ed in jobs requiring lower education levels, like transporta­tion and manufactur­ing.

PwC Chief Economist John Hawksworth said in the future employees of both genders will “have to be more adaptable, not stuck in the stereotype­s”.

He said this could present an opportunit­y for men and women to break down traditiona­l gender gaps and progress in careers, provided they can upskill or access training opportunit­ies.

“The whole thing has become more fluid,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

However, it was uncertain whether these changes would have any impact on the gender pay gap. Figures from the UK’s Office of National Statistics show on average women earned about 18 per cent less than men in Britain in 2016. — Reuters

 ?? Getty Images ?? Women less likely to face redundancy, according to UK study. —
Getty Images Women less likely to face redundancy, according to UK study. —

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