By Amy Glover

Copyright huffingtonpost

Yesterday, the Office for National Statistics shared that while job vacancies went down in the UK in the past quarter, more people are waiting to fill them (2.3 unemployed people per vacancy, compared to 2.2 the quarter before).

And at 4.7%, the unemployment rate was the highest it had been in four years.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) might take jobs previously done by interns, Ed Fidoe, founder of the London Interdisciplinary School, previously told us. That may hamper early careers.

According to Scarlett Maguire, pollster and founder of Merlin Strategy, “the reality, especially for women at work, may be even worse.

“Our landmark new report shows that women, especially women at thebeginning of their careers, are feeling very pessimistic about their future prospects. Nearly half (43%) of young women in work think they will be replaced by AI – and that’s even amongst those that currently have jobs.”

But that was far from their only concern.

What did the report show?

The report, run with gender parity consultancy The Pipeline, found that not only are young women worried about AI taking their jobs – 69% also say gender bias seems likely to prevent them from progressing in their careers.

That figure rises to 80% among 18-24-year-olds and Asian women regardless of age, while 72% of women in a management role consider sexism a barrier.

More than 40% of women polled said they’ve been called either too young or too old for their role, and 72% of women with caregiving responsibilities have said that this has held them back professionally.

63% worry that DEI stigma has halted their journey to leadership, and 40% said that recent changes to diversity and equality policies have left them feeling less safe at work.

MSNBC recently reported that in America, hundreds of thousands of Black women have left the workforce in the past three months.

“Systemic barriers still hold women back”

Professor Geeta Nargund from The Pipeline commented: “The finding that two in three women say gender bias is a barrier to progression proves systemic barriers still hold women back, particularly young, Asian, and Black women.

“If businesses are serious about profitability, then they must build diverse leadership teams. It is not a nice-to-have; it is essential.”

The Pipeline’s press release described the UK job market as “moving backwards” on this issue.

And Penny James, co-Chair of FTSE Women Leaders Review, added: ”“Whilst much progress has been made in recent years towards gender balance in British business, the survey reinforces that we still have a long way to travel to achieve equality of opportunity for women across the UK’s workplaces and the business benefits such as accessing talent and improved productivity that it drives.

“The Pipeline’s landmark survey provides an eye-opening perspective on women’s experiences in the workplace. I’d encourage all businesses to consider the insights and whether there are further steps they can take.”