At the end of 2025, major macroeconomic aggregates present a paradoxical picture: global unemployment rates remain relatively low, and labor markets are recovering in many countries. Yet deep fractures are widening between social groups, particularly among those already marginalized: women, low-skilled workers, young people without stabilized qualifications, and those in precarious jobs.
1. “Low” unemployment… masking inequalities
According to the latest OECD data, the average unemployment rate in member countries hovered around 4.9% in May 2025, historically low since the post-COVID-19 crisis. However, this figure conceals stark differences by age, gender, and socio-economic status (OECD).
- Female unemployment (5.1%) slightly exceeded male unemployment (4.7%) in March 2025, showing that gender gaps persist in the labor market (OECD).
- Among youth aged 15 to 24, unemployment stands at 11.1%, more than double the overall average (OECD).
These figures illustrate that economic “progress” is far from evenly distributed across population segments.
2. Technological transformation disproportionately affects female-dominated jobs
A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the gendered impact of artificial intelligence on employment: jobs predominantly held by women in high-income countries are nearly three times more exposed to AI-driven changes than those held by men (Reuters).
This does not mean AI will automatically eliminate these jobs, but rather that the nature of tasks is evolving faster in already vulnerable roles, particularly administrative and secretarial positions, which are heavily female-dominated (Reuters).
Additionally, a United Nations report indicates that 27.6% of women’s jobs are potentially exposed to generative AI, compared with 21.1% of men’s jobs, reflecting women’s concentration in clerical or educational roles more affected by these technologies (policy.desa.un.org).
3. Unequal labor participation and job quality
International data also show that even when women and marginalized groups are active in the labor market, they are more likely to hold vulnerable, informal, or poorly protected jobs.
In many regions, especially North Africa, South Asia, and Western Asia, women’s labor force participation remains far below men’s, often due to structural, regulatory, or cultural reasons.
When they do work, women earn on average 77% of men’s wages and occupy only 30% of managerial positions worldwide which are clear markers of persistent imbalances (social.desa.un.org).
4. A system that amplifies existing vulnerabilities
Today’s global economy is not simply “more automated”; it is structured around productivity optimization, algorithmic decision-making, and financial capital, which tend to exacerbate existing structural disparities rather than correct them. When technology is used for sorting, evaluation, or recruitment without human safeguards, it often reproduces societal biases, further marginalizing the most vulnerable.
Conclusion
Official 2025 figures suggest a balanced global economy with low unemployment rates. Yet a closer look reveals deep inequalities:
- Persistent gender gaps in labor markets.
- Job transformations affecting female-dominated and low-skilled sectors disproportionately.
- Labor participation shaped by structural divisions and continuing wage inequalities.
This is not inevitable. However, unless technological and economic shifts are accompanied by inclusive social policies, massive investment in upskilling, and protective legal frameworks, the benefits of progress will continue to accrue to the most advantaged, leaving others on the margins of a system that evolves faster than it integrates human needs.
Sources
- OECD, Unemployment Rates, May 2025 (global, by gender and age).
- ILO / Reuters, Impact of AI on Female-Dominated Jobs.
- UN, World Economic Situation and Prospects, Exposure of Jobs to AI by Gender.
- UN, World Social Report 2025, Labor Participation, Wages, and Leadership