Women are more likely to be affected by automation because of the types of jobs they have, according to stats from the Office of National Statistics.

A report from ONS found 70.2% of the jobs at highest risk of being replaced by automation are held by women.

In 2017, ONS found 1.5 million roles in England were at risk of having elements of their tasks automated, including roles such as retail cashiers, manufacturing plant employees and waiting staff, many of which are more likely to be filled by women.

“Automation through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will impact millions of jobs across the globe, but as this research shows, not everyone is equally at risk of being replaced by a robot,” said Tara O’Sullivan, chief marketing officer at Skillsoft.

“Women are more likely to be employed in jobs that are most likely to be displaced by automation – roles like cashiers or receptionists.”

Younger people and those who work part-time are also at a higher risk of a number of the tasks involved in their role being automated – 15.7% of people between the ages of 20 and 24 are in jobs likely to be automated.

The ONS report referenced some processes already replaced by automation such as self-checkouts at supermarkets, which are likely to threaten the roles most at risk: waiters and waitresses, shelf fillers and elementary sales occupations.