AI Threatens Jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean

A report by the International Labor Organization and the World Bank reveals that 2% to 5% of jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean are threatened by AI, with women and younger workers facing the highest risks. Gaps in digital infrastructure could hinder AI's potential impacts.

Between 2% and 5% of jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean are under threat from artificial intelligence (AI) and could be fully automated, according to a report by the International Labor Organization and the World Bank released on Wednesday.

The study highlighted that women and younger workers in formal sectors are at greater risk of having their tasks taken over by generative AI. This could present an additional burden on workers in a region already marked by widespread inequality and low-paid jobs in the informal economy. However, the report also noted that gaps in digital infrastructure and other inequalities may impede the potential impacts of generative AI in the region.

According to the data, between 26% and 38% of jobs in the region could be exposed to and affected by generative AI in some way. On a positive note, the research indicated that AI could enhance the productivity of between 8% and 14% of jobs, particularly those in urban, education, and formal sectors, as well as among higher-income earners.