An analysis by LinkedIn of roughly 15,000 companies operating across 27 countries shows that women are significantly underrepresented in jobs and leadership positions connected to artificial intelligence (AI). Bloomberg reported on the findings, which highlight measurable differences between companies that identify as AI firms and those that do not.
Key figures
- At AI companies, women with AI backgrounds occupy just 13 percent of leadership roles.
- At non‑AI-focused companies, that share is 19 percent.
- Women fill 27 percent of AI-specific roles at AI companies, versus 31 percent at other firms.
These gaps affect not only senior leadership but also technical and specialist positions within organizations.
Why this matters
Sarah Steinberg, LinkedIn’s head of global communications, noted that lower female participation means women are less likely to share in the economic gains of the AI boom over time, and that half of the workforce may be underrepresented in increasingly important technological decision-making.
Bloomberg also warned that because AI tools are increasingly used in hiring, lending, healthcare and policing, distortions that arise unintentionally from workforce composition and hiring practices can be encoded into systems and reinforce existing social biases.
The US situation and pay disparity
The report highlights that the problem is particularly pronounced in the United States, where the number of AI job postings has doubled in recent years. A typical AI role now pays more than twice as much as a non‑AI position, amplifying the economic implications of underrepresentation.
Consequences and next steps
Based on the LinkedIn data and Bloomberg’s analysis, the underrepresentation of women in AI has both economic and societal consequences: it can limit women’s income opportunities and contribute to biased technologies. Addressing the issue will likely require changes in education, recruitment practices and corporate governance to ensure that technological progress benefits a broader cross‑section of society.
Definitions
AI — artificial intelligence
Note: The figures cited here are drawn from LinkedIn’s company dataset and the Bloomberg report summarizing those findings.
