Digitization and employment: challenges for the future of work from a gender perspective

Abstract

The progressive digitization of economic sectors and the unstoppable development of automation and artificial intelligence imply a transformation of the occupational structure, posing numerous future challenges for employment. This panorama, present and future, will not affect women and men in the same way, since women face this technological revolution from their own barriers and weaknesses, which must be taken into account. In this context, it is of interest to observe whether there is, to what extent and with what guarantees of effectiveness, a safety net with which, on the one hand, the negative consequences that this transformation has on female employment are minimized and, on the other, , take advantage of the opportunities of digitization in women. Therefore, the objective of this work is to offer an in-depth study of the most important labor challenges posed by digitization for women. For which, firstly, the study of the continuous training of women in digital skills will be carried out, which will provide evidence of the under-representation of women in digital employment. Secondly, the analysis of digital and strategic competences for the access and professional development of women in the labor market of the future. Third, the examination of the impact of digitization on women's working conditions. Finally, the focus is on teleworking, work-life balance and work stress. This article includes an examination of the public policies that have been implemented at the national and international level to respond to the different problems related to the digital gender gap and its implications in the workplace, accompanied by a review of the studies and data related to the different challenges posed in the Spanish and European Union context, also providing evidence from other international contexts.