Women in Tech Face AI ‘Underclass’ as Job Gains Skew Male

While the artificial intelligence sector is experiencing rapid expansion, women in technology are increasingly finding themselves on the wrong side of its divide. A prevalent anxiety in Silicon Valley is the fear of either securing a lucrative position in AI or being relegated to a “permanent underclass.” This term characterizes individuals who lack upward mobility as AI automation transforms the labor market.

For many, this scenario represents a future possibility. However, for women currently working in tech, it appears to be an existing reality. According to recent analysis, women occupy only a small fraction of the new jobs created within the AI industry. Despite their minimal presence in these high-growth roles, they are disproportionately represented in positions that face a high risk of AI disruption.

This divergence highlights a growing inequality where the benefits of the AI boom are not being shared evenly, with women concentrated in vulnerable roles while the most promising opportunities remain largely out of reach.