Are women missing out on tech jobs?
That’s the claim in an Axios story this week. Women are slightly more than a quarter of new hires in artificial intelligence jobs, according to new LinkedIn data. Men hold 80% of technical jobs, 80% of head AI positions, 76% of engineering positions, and 74% of AI director jobs.
TL;DR
- Women constitute just over a quarter of new AI hires, and significantly fewer in technical and leadership AI roles.
- The education pipeline contributes to the discrepancy, with fewer girls expressing interest in tech careers and lower percentages of computer science degrees earned by women.
- Women leave the tech sector more frequently than men, with preferences for remote work and issues like 'bro culture' cited.
- While discrimination exists, other factors like career preferences and the need for mentorship play a role in women's advancement in AI.
- Closing the gender gap in AI leadership will be a long-term process with no single explanation.