Artificial intelligence could disproportionately affect job markets in developing countries, according to a joint report by the International Labour Organisation and the World Bank. While advanced economies show higher exposure to AI, particularly in professional and office roles, developing nations risk losing critical "pathway jobs" such as clerical and administrative positions. These roles have traditionally provided stable entry into the workforce for women and young people. The report examined 135 countries, representing two-thirds of the global workforce, and found that digital infrastructure, task composition, and skill levels will determine whether AI becomes a threat or an opportunity.
In lower-income countries, many workers in at-risk roles are already digitally connected, raising the possibility of rapid job displacement. However, those in positions that could benefit from AI-driven productivity often lack reliable internet access. The study notes that even when job titles appear similar across nations, tasks in developing economies tend to be more routine and less analytical, limiting AI's immediate utility. The report stresses that AI's impact will depend on infrastructure, task organisation, and skills development.
The real danger isn't that AI will replace workers in Nigeria and similar economies—it's that those workers won't be replaced at all, but simply discarded. With clerical and administrative roles at risk, and weak digital infrastructure in place, young people and women could find fewer routes into formal employment. The International Labour Organisation and World Bank report confirms a structural disadvantage: developing countries may miss both the protections and productivity gains AI offers. Without targeted investment, automation won't create new opportunities—it will just erase old ones.
