AI and digital technology: gender gaps in higher education

José Ignacio Conde-Ruiz, Juan José Ganuza (), Manu García and Carlos Victoria
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Juan José Ganuza: https://www.upf.edu/web/econ/faculty/-/asset_publisher/6aWmmXf28uXT/persona/id/3418872

Economics Working Papers from Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Abstract: This article examines gender gaps in higher education in Spain from 1985 to 2023 in the context of technological advancements, particularly digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI). We identify significant disparities, with women over represented in health-related fields and underrepresented in STEM disciplines. This imbalance is concerning as STEM fields offer better employment prospects and higher salaries. We analyze university degrees' exposure to technological change through Routine Task Intensity (RTI) and AI exposure indices. Our findings show that women are more enrolled in degrees with high RTI, prone to automation, and less in degrees with high AI exposure, likely to benefit from technological advancements. This suggests technological change could widen existing labor market gender gaps. To address this, we recommend policies to boost female participation in STEM fields and adapt educational curricula to reduce routine tasks and enhance AI complementarities, ensuring equitable labor market outcomes amid technological change.

Keywords: Gender gaps; artificial intelligence; higher education; STEM; technological change; self-actualization. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 I26 J16 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-05
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: AI and Digital Technology: Gender Gaps in Higher Education (2024)
Working Paper: AI and Digital Technology: Gender Gaps in Higher Education (2024)
Working Paper: AI and Digital Technology: Gender Gaps in Higher Education (2024)
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