Women Lagging in AI Job Growth, LinkedIn Research Shows
New data indicates men are hired for AI roles at nearly three times the rate of women, despite substantial salary premiums.
Women are being underrepresented in the rapidly expanding field of artificial intelligence, missing out on a significant portion of lucrative new jobs, according to new research from LinkedIn.
In 2025, women accounted for only 26 percent of artificial intelligence hires in the United States, a stark contrast to their 50 percent share of hires in non-AI occupations. This disparity is particularly concerning given that AI jobs are not only growing at an accelerated pace but also offer substantial salary advantages.
US AI job postings have approximately doubled since 2023. The typical AI role listed compensation around $177,000 annually, nearly double the approximately $80,000 offered for typical non-AI positions. This suggests that women are disproportionately excluded from a burgeoning sector with significant financial rewards.
The demand for AI expertise spans beyond traditional computer science roles. Companies are actively seeking professionals to develop AI systems, structure them for business applications, and design AI strategies. Roles such as 'AI engineer' have surpassed 'machine learning engineer' as the most common AI-related occupation listed on the LinkedIn platform. Other positions like 'vice president of AI' have seen a roughly sixfold increase in postings, and 'forward deployed engineer,' focused on implementing AI systems, has become the third most frequent AI occupation advertised.
However, women's representation falls even further in some of the most senior and highly compensated AI positions. They comprise only 20 percent of 'head of AI' roles, 26 percent of 'director of AI' positions, and 18 percent of 'member of technical staff' roles. At the C-suite level within AI-focused companies across 27 countries examined by LinkedIn, women hold just 13 percent of leadership positions.
LinkedIn refers to this as an 'AI triple penalty,' where women face representation gaps at multiple career stages. Their share of AI roles is about 10 percentage points lower than non-AI roles. They also represent approximately 5 percentage points less of the workforce at AI-focused companies compared to similar non-AI businesses. The most significant gap, about 15 percentage points wider, appears at the C-suite level compared to executive roles below that.
The gender gap is particularly concerning due to the financial implications of these high-paying roles. Underrepresentation in positions like head of AI, director of AI, and member of technical staff could significantly impact the broader gender pay and wealth gap. For individuals possessing the necessary skills and experience, AI presents a potentially lucrative career path, but access appears unequal.
Gender is not the only demographic divide identified by LinkedIn. AI jobs are also heavily concentrated among individuals with four-year college degrees, with approximately 91 percent of AI workers holding a bachelor's degree or higher. This figure exceeds 95 percent in several of the highest-paid AI occupations, potentially disadvantaging those without traditional degrees as demand for AI expertise grows. This trend raises questions about how employers can broaden access to the sector as AI skills become increasingly critical across industries. The economic benefits of the next wave of growth could be shaped by who gains access to these roles, with a persistent underrepresentation of women potentially leading to missed opportunities for both individuals and companies.