Women accounted for just 26% of hires in U.S. jobs requiring AI skills last year, despite AI job postings doubling since 2023, according to a LinkedIn analysis reported by fortune.com. These AI roles offer an average salary of around $177,000 annually, more than double the roughly $80,000 for non-AI roles. Women’s underrepresentation in AI hiring means they are missing out on significant economic opportunities in a rapidly growing sector.
The LinkedIn report highlights that women’s share in AI-related roles is far below their 50% representation in non-AI jobs. At senior levels, the disparity widens further, with women holding only 13% of tech-related C-suite positions at AI companies across 27 countries. The report states this gap persists despite women’s efforts to enter the field, indicating systemic barriers to access and advancement in AI careers.
This imbalance matters as AI jobs are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying in today’s labor market, with an average salary difference of nearly $100,000 compared to non-AI roles. The gender wage gap also widened slightly last year, with women earning 18.6% less than men for equivalent work. The underrepresentation of women in AI roles risks reinforcing existing economic disparities and limits diversity in a critical technology sector.
The LinkedIn study underscores that women are missing out on thousands of dollars annually due to the gender imbalance in AI hiring. The findings call attention to the need for more inclusive hiring and promotion practices in AI companies to ensure equitable access to these lucrative opportunities.