The gender gap extends to AI skills, and leaders have the power to turn it around

New research has found that the gender gap affecting many business areas has extended to AI skills, with a noticeable disconnect revealed. These results show that leaders are shooting themselves in the foot.

Across Australia, 17 per cent of men have received artificial intelligence (AI) training in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, just 7 per cent of women said the same, according to the latest Workmonitor Pulse survey by Randstad.

Making these results more alarming is the openness women have to develop these skills, with half of women respondents aware of the potential AI will have in their future careers.

Employers may benefit by prioritising AI upskilling, as 23 per cent of women said they’d prefer to change jobs or careers to learn how to use AI, compared to 38 per cent of men.

“While the research shows most female employees know AI skills are critical to their long-term career prospects and success, a significant gap exists between the training they desire and training they receive,” commented Randstad’s NSW director Jo Jakobs.

“This needs to be addressed as an increasing number of employers are seeking talent with AI skills, with our own analysis of global job ads showing a 2,000 per cent uptick since Q1 alone.”

Employers who disregard the development of AI skills run the risk of both losing disgruntled employees and falling behind the competition. Understanding the benefits of this tech and recognising the impact it will have in the coming years is crucial, said Ms Jakobs.

With women clearly keen to embrace these skills, putting more time and effort into upskilling can be a worthwhile investment.

“AI is here to stay, and the benefits of it are very clear, and our data shows that female employees stand ready to embrace it. Despite progress in recent years, women still fare worse than men in most spheres of social and economic life,” Ms Jakobs explained.

“It’s imperative, therefore, that we leverage this readiness; otherwise, we run the risk of the skills gap increasing, exacerbating existing issues in terms of gender equality, and undoing years of hard work to strengthen gender-equal economic growth.”

According to Randstad, the current AI skills gap is resulting in fewer women using this tech in the workplace. Forty-four per cent of men claimed they used AI in the workplace, compared to just 21 per cent of women.

Similarly, there’s a disconnect in enthusiasm, with just 36 per cent of women excited about the potential of AI in the workplace, compared to 50 per cent of men.

This data may have something to do with employers not understanding the potential of AI, with only 43 per cent believing that AI skills will have benefits to employees’ careers. Without leader intervention, these results could persist, as just 15 per cent of women claiming they’d request AI training over the next year, compared to 27 per cent of men.

Businesses that understand the massive opportunity AI skills possess can help ensure they remain competitive in the modern workforce. By prioritising AI skills development, for men and women alike, leaders can help bolster their capability while keeping employees engaged. It’s a win-win.