AI recruitment tools are sparking concern among mid-life women, who fear they are being unfairly disadvantaged in the job market. The issue has been brought to light by Stacey Duguid, a 52-year-old woman who has been struggling to find employment after a career spanning decades. She believes AI-powered recruitment tools are contributing to the problem, and her experience is not an isolated one. The BBC has spoken to over 60 women aged 40 to 65 who have faced similar challenges. These women, with decades of experience in senior roles, are finding it increasingly difficult to secure employment, often receiving automated rejections or no response at all. The concern is that AI screening tools may be biased against women, particularly those who have taken time out of work for childcare, as they may interpret gaps in CVs negatively. This could have significant implications for the economy, as the City of London Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce estimates that AI and automation could displace hundreds of thousands of women's jobs by 2035. The taskforce's research highlights a lack of understanding among recruiters about how AI works, and a potential for bias in CV screening and AI-scored interviews. This is further supported by the case of Workday, a popular AI-powered human resources software company, which is facing claims of violating Californian law by weeding out job applicants for discriminatory reasons. The issue is complex, as AI tools are designed to support human judgment, but the lack of regulation and understanding of their inner workings can lead to unfair outcomes. Dr Eleanor Drage argues that AI's logic is 'completely faulty' as it cannot assess a person's intrinsic value or personality. The situation is further complicated by the fact that many companies are using AI to evaluate vulnerable populations, such as older women returning to the workforce. The need for mandatory testing and stronger regulation of AI recruitment tools is being called for to ensure fairness and transparency in the hiring process. As AI continues to play a larger role in recruitment, it is crucial to address these concerns to prevent further marginalization of women in the job market.
