A recent report by the City of London Corporation warns that mid-career women in the United Kingdom’s tech and financial sectors are at greater risk of job loss from AI and automation than their male peers, with many being overlooked for digital roles due to rigid hiring practices.
The study highlights that women with at least five years of experience are frequently sidelined in tech and professional services, where they are already underrepresented. Automated CV screening often fails to account for career breaks or limits consideration to narrowly defined technical experience.
To tackle the issue, the report urges employers to reskill women in non-technical roles, particularly those in clerical positions most at risk of automation. It estimates 119,000 clerical roles could be displaced in the next decade, potentially costing companies up to £757 million in redundancy payments if reskilling is not pursued.
Upskilling initiatives would allow employers to evaluate candidates based on potential rather than past technical experience. The report also notes that as many as 60,000 women leave tech roles each year, citing limited advancement, lack of recognition, and inadequate pay.
Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley, said, “Investing in digital skills and workforce development unlocks talent, strengthens teams, and ensures the UK remains a global leader in innovation.”
The study also found that talent shortages persist, with over 12,000 digital vacancies unfilled in 2024. While some companies have offered above-average wages, the report warns that higher pay alone cannot close the digital skills gap, which is projected to last until 2035, potentially costing the UK more than £10 billion in lost economic growth.
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