Women, Work, and AI: Progress, Gaps, and What Comes Next

The world of work is experiencing a great shift. AI is redrawing the map of opportunity; automating tasks, creating new ways of working, and reshaping roles. Some jobs evolve, others disappear, and new ones emerge. The question is: Who knows about the new routes, and who is left navigating with the old map? For women, the rise of AI presents both a powerful opportunity and a critical challenge.

When the Routes Start to Change

One of the biggest shifts happening in the AI economy is the difference between jobs that are enhanced by AI and those that are disrupted by it. Some roles are gaining powerful new tools that make workers more productive and valuable. These are the jobs where AI acts like an accelerator. Others are seeing tasks automated or restructured entirely, forcing workers to adapt quickly.

Right now, women are more likely to be concentrated in the second category. Research shows that over a third of women work in roles vulnerable to AI disruption, compared to about a quarter of men. Many of these roles, such as administrative and coordination positions, have historically been female-dominated. Meanwhile, many of the roles benefiting most from AI advancements remain heavily represented by men.

The Talent Is Not the Problem

What makes this challenge particularly striking is that the issue is not a lack of talent.

Women are entering STEM education in significant numbers. Globally, women make up about 37–40% of STEM graduates, according to data from the World Bank. Yet when the transition from education to careers happens, fewer women remain in the pipeline; women account for only about 28% of the global STEM workforce, based on data from the World Economic Forum. And the gap widens even further at leadership levels, where representation continues to decline as roles become more senior. The International Labor Organization notes that “the more senior the position, the smaller the share of women,” a pattern widely observed across industries. This pattern is often described as the “leaky pipeline.”

Talent enters the system, but much less of it reaches the positions where decisions about innovation and technology are made.

Signs of a New Direction

Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signals. Women are increasingly building skills in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. In recent years, the number of women listing AI engineering skills on professional platforms has steadily grown. Interest in the field is also remarkably high. And for many already working in the space, AI is opening doors. Nearly two-thirds report that the technology is accelerating their path to senior roles, particularly in areas like product strategy and AI governance.

The readiness is there. The question now is whether the systems surrounding work will allow that readiness to translate into opportunity.

Designing a Better Map

Technology may change quickly, but the systems around it determine who benefits from that change.

If the AI economy is to expand opportunity rather than deepen inequality, intentional action is required.

Organizations must invest in accessible digital and AI skills training, particularly for women and underserved communities.

Hiring systems need to focus more on skills and potential, rather than traditional career paths that may overlook emerging talent.

Flexible work structures and digital learning platforms can also help more women transition into new roles as industries evolve.

And perhaps most importantly, women must be present not only as users of AI,  but as builders, decision-makers, and leaders shaping how the technology evolves.

Reaching the Destination Together

At Tech4Dev, we believe the future of work must be built with economic inclusion at its core.

Expanding access to digital and emerging technology skills is only the first step. The real goal is ensuring that women and underserved communities can translate those skills into meaningful economic opportunity.

Because the AI economy is still being built.

The map is still changing.

And the choices we make now will determine who finds new pathways to opportunity, and who is left searching for a road that no longer exists.

If we want the destination to be shared prosperity, then the map must be designed so that everyone can move forward.