Women across the UK say artificial intelligence tools used in hiring may be working against them. The concern is strongest among women in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are trying to return to work.
Stacey Duguid spent decades in senior fashion roles before trying to find "one last job." After 16 months and countless applications, she received almost no replies.
She began removing references to her age and years of experience from her CV. She calls the process "Botoxing" her CV.
Duguid posted about her experience online and heard from thousands of women with similar stories. She believes AI tools may be reflecting existing bias rather than removing it.
The BBC spoke with more than 60 women in this age group across different industries. Most have years of senior experience but say they now get automated rejections or no response at all.
Women Say Confidence Has Suffered
Koeyli Jaluka has worked in manufacturing, corporate roles and healthcare. She has applied for 442 jobs since being made redundant nine months ago and has heard back only a handful of times.
She has been told she is "too senior," which she believes is often a stand-in for age. She says her confidence has taken a hit despite having two degrees and years of experience.
Anna Cowie worked in advertising for 30 years and helped launch the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. She has been unemployed for close to four years and has lost count of how many CVs she has sent.
Cowie now volunteers at community festivals and says meeting people in person works better than online applications. She said networking lets her be seen as a person rather than "lines on paper."
A City of London taskforce focused on women in finance and professional services has raised concerns about AI in hiring. Chair Caroline Haines said research shows many worry the tools fail to recognize the skills experienced women bring.
Career gaps, often linked to childcare, can be flagged negatively by some screening systems. The taskforce estimates AI and automation could displace hundreds of thousands of women's jobs by 2035.
Calls for Stronger Regulation
Some London companies have reportedly stopped using AI hiring tools over bias concerns. AI lawyer Laura Holden said many firms do not fully understand how the tools work.
She said one tool grades CVs from A to D and encourages recruiters to focus on higher scores. Others flag things like a seven-year career gap as a concern for reviewers.
Dr Eleanor Drage of the University of Cambridge said fears about bias are justified. She argued AI cannot judge a person's character or transferable skills the way a human recruiter can.
Workday, whose HR software is used widely, is facing a lawsuit alleging its tools led to discriminatory rejections at several large companies. The company says the claims are false and that its software does not make hiring decisions or consider age or gender.
The UK government said existing equality and data protection laws apply to AI systems and it will act if more protection is needed. A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the mayor has backed recommendations to help employers use AI responsibly.
Duguid has since set up a community platform for women to share experiences and push for change in hiring practices.
