A new report suggests that technology will lead to job losses over the next decade, with two-thirds of those losses affecting women without college degrees. The analysis highlights the shrinking opportunities for women without degrees, who make up the majority of women in the U.S. The report also reveals that the at-risk jobs are middle-wage occupations, while low-wage positions are expected to grow. The analysis calls for improving the quality of lower-wage jobs and creating more paths into male-dominated sectors to mitigate the impact on women.
A study by Deloitte and NYU found that over half of employees, including white men, downplay parts of their identity to fit in at work. The percentage of employees who ‘cover’ has remained unchanged in the last decade. The study also revealed that employees with more marginalized identities are more likely to cover, younger employees tend to cover more than older employees, and people who aren’t marginalized also cover, and covering comes with negative impacts on job performance and emotional well-being.
The recommendation to improve the quality of lower-wage jobs and create more pathways into traditionally male-dominated sectors is a strategic response. It suggests a need for policies and business practices that foster inclusivity and skill development, particularly for the most vulnerable workers, which is a distinct area where IT services companies can find opportunity, not only for themselves, but as a service.
Emphasizing the development and provision of training and upskilling programs, especially for vulnerable demographics like women without college degrees, can be a valuable service offering and corporate responsibility initiative alike. There remains opportunity for competitive differentiation here.