• Job seekers who frequently use AI in their job search are more than twice as likely to receive a job offer as those who avoid it (76% vs. 33%).

• Educational attainment is the strongest predictor of AI adoption: 92% of graduate degree holders use AI in their job search, compared to 60% of high school graduates.

• Despite being more likely to hold college degrees, women are less likely than men to use AI across every application category, from resume drafting to interview prep.

• First-time job seekers are more AI-engaged than those with experience, but 42% worry "a great deal" that AI will devalue their skills—nearly double the rate of experienced job seekers (25%).

• Women’s employment is reaching a new peak as women become a larger share of nonfarm labor than men, and women’s labor force participation continues to improve. 

• But as AI becomes more central in the workplace, many women risk being left behind due to gaps in education and training. 

• More women are entering skilled trades as the labor market shifts, finding growth opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields.

According to the Federal Reserve’s February Beige Book, businesses are integrating AI to augment output rather than replace jobs. It is tempting to link recent GDP growth, which has diverged from a softening labor market, to productivity gains from AI. Yet despite sensational headlines, AI’s real-world business impact remains limited. And the most important question may not be how AI affects productivity, but who benefits if and when it does.