Women remain underrepresented as artificial intelligence reshapes the digital economy

Friday 25 September 2026 - 13:41

By: Azzat Manal

Women remain underrepresented as artificial intelligence reshapes the digital economy

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming economies, workplaces and digital services, but women continue to face significant barriers to participating in and benefiting from the technology revolution. Recent analysis from UN Women highlights persistent gender gaps across the AI ecosystem, from technical careers and leadership positions to access to emerging tools and protection from technology-facilitated abuse.

Women remain underrepresented in the technology workforce, with UN Women noting that they account for roughly 22 percent of AI workers globally. Their limited presence in positions where technological strategies and policies are shaped raises broader questions about who participates in decisions affecting the development and governance of AI.

The imbalance also extends beyond employment. Women and girls continue to face a digital divide that can restrict their access to technology, digital skills and opportunities created by technological change. UN Women has warned that the rapid expansion of AI could deepen existing inequalities if women are not given greater opportunities to participate in the digital economy.

The impact on employment is particularly important. According to the 2025 Gender Snapshot produced by UN Women and UN DESA, 27.6 percent of women's employment worldwide is potentially exposed to generative AI, compared with 21.1 percent of men's employment. The figures do not mean that these jobs will necessarily disappear, but they indicate that women are significantly exposed to changes in tasks and occupations as AI becomes more widely integrated into workplaces.

The International Labour Organization has similarly emphasized that generative AI is more likely to transform many occupations than eliminate them entirely. This makes access to training, digital skills and opportunities to move into emerging roles increasingly important for workers who may be affected by automation and workplace restructuring.

At the same time, AI can create new risks for women online. Generative technologies can facilitate the rapid production and distribution of abusive or manipulated content, adding another layer to existing forms of online harassment and gender-based violence. UN Women has therefore called for stronger safeguards and greater participation by women in technology governance and decision-making.

The organization argues that closing the gender gap requires more than increasing the number of women working in technology. It also involves improving access to digital education, supporting women in science and technology careers, expanding leadership opportunities and ensuring that gender considerations are incorporated into AI policies and regulatory frameworks.

The issue has broader economic implications. UN Women estimates that closing the gender digital divide could generate substantial economic gains, while giving women and girls greater access to digital technologies could expand their opportunities in education, employment and entrepreneurship.

As governments and technology companies continue to develop rules for artificial intelligence, the question of representation is becoming increasingly important. Ensuring that women have a meaningful role in developing, using and governing AI could help determine whether the technology contributes to broader economic participation or reinforces inequalities that already exist in the digital economy.