AI and women’s work: a complicated relationship of uncertainty and skepticism
Whether they have been employed for years or have only recently entered the job market, women workers in Europe remain at a disadvantage. Not only are they less employed than men and face poorer career prospects, but their jobs today appear particularly exposed to the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence (AI). On the one hand, this external shock threatens roles and sectors where women are overrepresented. On the other, women tend to be less inclined to engage with and fully leverage technological tools. Due to limited familiarity or lower risk propensity, the reality is clear: in Europe, the connection between women workers and tech remains weak.
To better understand the scope of this issue, it is useful to start with some figures. According to Eurostat, women professionals in ICT (Information and Communication Technology)—fields most closely linked to both the use and development of digital tools—account for around 20% of the total workforce. Similar numbers are found among those working directly with AI. However, their presence drops to just over 12% when looking at professionals with a decade of experience. This sends a clear signal: early attrition from these career paths persists, and as a result, few women reach leadership positions.
Although the number of female students in STEM fields has grown in recent years, in Europe they still represent only one in three graduates. The situation does not improve on the entrepreneurial side either: across the continent, women founders of tech startups remain below 15%. In short, while tech and innovation sectors currently offer better salaries and job opportunities—and at the same time suffer from significant talent shortages—women professionals continue to be the exception.
Beyond the issue of underrepresentation in AI and technical roles, the broader impact of technology on women’s employment is particularly concerning. According to Eurostat data, the jobs most exposed to current transformations are those disproportionately held by women. For example, 66% of European women work in office roles, often repetitive and easily automatable. Women also make up 93% of those working in childcare and education (particularly support teachers and educators), and 75% of the healthcare sector workforce—mainly in frontline roles, far less so in leadership and management positions.
Regardless of the type of work they perform, women are generally more hesitant than men to take advantage of AI’s potential. Evidence shows that many struggle to interact with advanced digital tools. The reasons range from limited awareness of their capabilities, to widespread fear of using them, to a common perception that it may be unethical to rely on such tools at work.
Yet within these challenges lie part of the solution. European women are becoming increasingly educated, and investment in education can help mitigate the more negative impacts of AI from an employment perspective. Moreover, while technology is transforming or eliminating certain roles, it is also creating new ones—offering opportunities both for young people entering the job market and for experienced professionals.
Some projections by the United Nations suggest that by 2030, sectors with a strong female presence could see an increase of 171 million jobs globally—roles that women, thanks to improved educational pathways, could be well positioned to access. This opportunity also carries positive economic implications. According to the European Commission, if the EU were to increase the share of women in tech to 45%, it could boost its GDP by between €260 and €600 billion.