While UK enrolments in GenAI courses have soared, female participation remains significantly lower than the global average of 32%. This highlights a persistent gender divide in one of the fastest-growing sectors in tech.

This trend mirrors the broader gender imbalance in STEM and AI fields. Despite a 50% increase in women entering full-time STEM degrees in the UK between 2011 and 2020, women still make up only 26% of the UK tech workforce. The pattern is consistent in GenAI, despite its increasing influence across industries.

Dr. Alexandra Urban, Learning Science Research Lead at Coursera, emphasised that the gender gap in AI goes beyond workforce representation. “Studies show that 44% of AI systems exhibit gender bias when female perspectives are missing from development. Expanding women’s access to GenAI skills is critical to reducing bias and ensuring more inclusive AI innovation.”

The report also highlights several barriers preventing women from fully engaging in GenAI. Women are six times more likely to enrol in beginner-level GenAI courses compared to intermediate ones, pointing to a confidence gap. Additionally, balancing work and home responsibilities remains a major challenge, with many women citing a lack of time as the primary reason for discontinuing courses.

Gangotri Bhatt, Director of Skills Lab at FDM Group: "This research shows a clear sign that more needs to be done to bring women into AI and STEM. While demand for AI skills is soaring, women remain underrepresented. Businesses must take the lead in closing this gap by prioritising upskilling and providing the right training and career progression opportunities for women. As AI becomes more integral to business operations, empowering women with the right skills and support is crucial. In order to build a stronger, more competitive tech sector, organisations must ensure women are at the forefront of the industry’s future."

Zoe Kelleher, Club Executive, London, for AND Digital, commented: “Fast moving technologies such as generative AI offer a chance to level the playing field when it comes to female representation in tech roles, and it’s on education institutions and businesses to encourage women and lay the groundwork for a more diverse tech sector.”

“The gender balance is still off, but it’s moving in the right direction. When I started in tech, coding was mainly done by men, but there’s a much better split now with female coders and they have helped developers to become more rounded. The same can be true with generative AI, as organisations promote a people AND innovation approach, placing training and development in high value skills at the heart of people’s journey within the industry.”

“On the whole, AND Digital’s research of female tech leaders shows that 84% believe the industry has ‘changed for the better,’ which isn’t to say there isn’t still a way to go, but women must believe in themselves and their values to continue driving positive change.”

Government-backed AI scholarships and increasing AI adoption across sectors create significant opportunities, if access to GenAI skills widens. It comes amidst a broader shortage of the nation’s tech skills, which may stifle the government’s AI push.

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