Pew finds gender gap in job growth across AI exposed occupations

Oct 22, 2026
Men experienced stronger employment growth than women as occupational exposure to generative AI increased, and the gap widened for workers without a bachelor's degree.

Pew Research Center found that employment growth increased faster for men than women as occupational exposure to generative AI rose, according to its analysis. For each one point increase in an occupation's AI exposure score, men's employment grew 6.3%, while women's employment changed by 0.2%.

The analysis compared employment in 480 occupations during 2017 to 2019 with employment from 2023 through June 2026. It used Current Population Survey data and assigned exposure scores based on whether generative AI can perform or assist with important tasks listed in the Department of Labor's O*NET database.

The gap widened for workers without a bachelor's degree, but not for those with one. Among workers with a high school diploma or less, men's employment grew 8.8% for each one point increase in AI exposure, while women's fell 9.5%.

The analysis shows an association rather than a direct effect of AI. Other labor market changes during the period may also have affected employment.

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