Women's participation in Generative AI (GenAI) courses on Coursera has climbed from 32% to 36% globally over the past year, with even sharper gains among enterprise learners—rising from 36% to 42%—according to a new report released ahead of International Women's Day.
The findings, published in One Year Later: The Gender Gap in GenAI, mark the first comprehensive update to Coursera's original analysis and signal a measurable narrowing of the skill divide in one of the world's fastest-growing technology fields.
“This data shows that deliberate efforts to engage women in GenAI learning are working, especially within corporate training environments,” said Dr. Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. “However, the pace of change varies widely by region, and we cannot afford to slow down.”
Background: Why GenAI Skills Matter
GenAI is projected to inject up to USD $22.3 trillion into the global economy by 2030, according to IDC research. The technology is expected to reshape industries ranging from healthcare to finance, making equitable access to skills training a critical economic and social priority.
The Coursera report analyzes enrollment trends across millions of learners worldwide, comparing data from 2024 and 2025 to identify where the gender gap is closing—and where it is widening.
Regional Trends: Latin America and Asia Lead, Developed Nations Lag
Latin America posted the most dramatic improvements, with the share of female GenAI enrollments doubling year-over-year. Peru led the region with a gain of 14.5 percentage points, followed by Mexico (+5.3) and Colombia (+4.5).
In the Asia Pacific region, Uzbekistan stood out globally with an 8.8 percentage point increase. India, Coursera’s largest market for GenAI courses, recorded a rise of 2.2 percentage points, while Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines also showed positive movement.
Conversely, several English-speaking and economically advanced nations saw women’s share of GenAI enrollments decline: the United States (-0.9 percentage points), Canada (-1.0), the United Kingdom (-1.8), Spain (-1.1), and Germany (-0.2).
“Developed countries risk creating a new digital divide if they don’t address the cultural and structural barriers that keep women from upskilling in GenAI,” noted Vandenbosch.
What This Means: Economic Inclusion Hinges on Continued Momentum
The narrowing global gap is encouraging, but the regional divergence underscores the need for targeted policies and investment. Without sustained efforts, the economic benefits of GenAI—potentially trillions of dollars—could concentrate in male-dominated workforces, exacerbating existing inequalities.
For enterprises, the data offers a clear road map: organizations that actively promote GenAI training for women are already seeing faster closing of the gap. The report urges governments and companies to double down on scholarships, mentorship, and flexible learning pathways.
As International Women's Day approaches, the report serves both as a progress marker and a call to action. “We have proof that change is possible, but it’s not automatic,” said Vandenbosch. “The next year will determine whether this becomes a lasting trend or a temporary spike.”