A perceived lack of generative AI’s relevance to their jobs may keep women from learning more about how to use the technology at work — which could worsen a growing gender divide in AI skills, according to separate reports from both Amazon Web Services and Coursera.
Only 36% of women said that they believe generative AI can help advance their careers, compared with 45% of men, according to Coursera’s report, citing a survey by Cognizant. Similarly, 31% of women surveyed by AWS said they were uncertain how generative AI applies to their role.
Confidence gaps also keep women from fully engaging in generative AI, even learning courses. According to AWS, women reported feeling unsure where to start or what skills to focus on, while Coursera noted hesitation in engagement with learning.
For example, women were six times more likely to enroll in beginner-level generative AI courses than intermediate ones, which could indicate “a preference for structured, accessible entry points,” Coursera said.
“Women are more likely to engage when GenAI is framed through practical applications in healthcare, education, or creative industries,” the Coursera report said. “Real-world case studies and interdisciplinary GenAI courses have proven effective in increasing participation and completion rates.”
General findings indicate that women may be more wary of engaging with AI overall; a Cypher Learning study from September 2024 noted that women, workers over 55 and clerical or physical workers were less likely to use AI at work compared to younger workers and men. Additionally, women and workers over 45 were more likely to see AI as “a threat to society” and resist using the technology altogether, according to a report from Slack’s Workforce Lab.
As solutions, both Coursera and AWS suggest that employers offer targeted learning support to women.
“This hesitation isn’t about skill gaps alone — it stems from societal messaging, limited access to mentors, and a lack of personalized learning support,” according to Coursera’s report. “Without interventions designed to reinforce self-efficacy, women are more likely to disengage early or opt out of GenAI learning altogether.”
Women also told AWS that employer-sponsored training and flexible learning options would be top motivators for them to work on generative AI skills — which could aid with retention overall.