As AI becomes part of the everyday workforce, there is growing concern about what this means for women’s careers. According to the International Labour organisation women may face higher risks of job disruption as roles evolve.
However, the data tells a different story; Women have already begun moving steadily towards STEM fields. Even during global uncertainty, including visa delays, interest in STEM has continued to rise. According to The National Center for Biotechnology Information, India has consistently maintained strong participation, with women accounting for over 40% of STEM graduates. Meanwhile, the UAE is pushing even further, with women making up more than 50% of STEM graduates in several programs.
For years, engineering and technical fields were seen as male-dominated spaces. In many parts of the world, these careers were not actively encouraged for women. That perception is changing.
The shift is now clearly visible across regions, and it’s been building over time. In countries like Malaysia and Tunisia, STEM education is already close to gender parity. In the UAE, according to the UAE Embassy, the momentum is even stronger, with women making up 56% of STEM graduates from government universities. Across the wider Middle East, female participation typically ranges between 40% and 50%.
In traditional education hubs such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, progress is picking up, just at a slower pace. With 30% to 35% of STEM students being women. Germany, in particular, is beginning to see a big shift. The share of women in STEM has now reached about 36% for the first time.
There is also a clear shift within STEM itself. Artificial intelligence and engineering are drawing in more women than they did a decade ago. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest report women today make up around 22% of the global AI workforce, up from roughly 15% ten years ago. The gap is still there, though the direction is clearly changing.
Despite this progress, one important question remains. According to UNESCO Data, women currently represent around 35% of STEM students globally, while the participation is rising across several regions, it is not yet evenly distributed.
As AI and technology continue to progress, there is still uncertainty around how evenly this growth will play out. It remains to be seen whether momentum will spread globally or stay concentrated in regions with stronger access and support systems.
Ms. Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance says, “What’s becoming clear is that opportunity on its own isn’t enough. Progress will depend just as much on the support women get around them. We can start by creating clear pathways, removing everyday barriers, and actively encouraging more women to step into STEM.”
Sonal adds, “At the same time, there are still barriers that hold many women back at the final stage. We have seen that, and it can be something as simple as a visa delay, an application fee, or a lack of financial support. Often, when women aim higher, the support system around them does not always keep pace. At Prodigy Finance, we have always focused on supporting students through these moments, and with initiatives like ProdiShe, launched in collaboration with NovaGrad, we aim to help more women take that first step with confidence.”
Sonal concluded, “Lastly, as a woman myself, I want to emphasise that when we talk about feminism in today’s context, it is about recognising talent on a global scale. It’s about making sure women aren’t held back by perception, and can step forward with confidence across industries. We’ve seen what’s possible through pioneers like Kalpana Chawla or our very own student Prachi Mahapatra from Odisha, whose journey reflects how women today are stepping into global careers and making their mark in fields like technology with the same ambition.
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