International Women’s Day 2026 - why is there still a big AI gender skills gap – and what can employers do about it?

There is a clear gender divide between those with AI skills and those without, according to a recent report by recruitment consultancy, Randstad.

The research based on input from 12,000 employees around the world combined with analysis of more than three million job profiles indicated that 71% of men benefitted from such expertise. But among women, the number dropped to only 29%, amounting to a huge 42% gender gap.

While the situation appears to be improving somewhat for the younger generation (66% of men versus 34% of women), it is certainly not the case among older people. In fact, a mere 21% of women (versus 79% of men) who have worked for more than 30 years claimed to be AI-proficient.

A widespread lack of training opportunities appears to be a major contributor to the situation. The study revealed that women were significantly less likely to have been offered occasions ...