Women Raising Their Skills Game in Drive to Thrive in the Workforce
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Women professionals are upskilling like never before as they bet on potential of AI
New Delhi: Women professionals in India are betting big on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in arming themselves to break through the glass ceiling, upskilling experts said. Shravan Goli, strategic advisor, Coursera, said the surge in enrolments for AI and generative AI courses among women in India is a measure of how highly rated AI skills in the modern workforce are. Comparing the June quarter with the same period a year ago, he said, "When I think about overall GenAI course enrolments for women learners in India, it's about a 700% increase." At Coursera, the number of women in India upskilling themselves in GenAI courses for leadership roles in the same period ballooned from 653 to 6,386. "GenAI-for-executives course enrolment by women learners in India has seen an 870% increase in Q2 of 2024 compared to Q2 of 2023. So, both are phenomenal," Goli said. The engagement in advanced programmes is particularly evident in executive-level courses at Upgrad. Mayank Kumar, cofounder of Upgrad, pointed out that the executive doctorate programmes in generative AI and digital leadership have enrolled over 150 women leaders in less than a year. "Over 95% of our enrolments come from professionals with eight-plus years of experience, reiterating the demand for continuous learning even after spending a substantial career span within the workforce," he said. Integrating AI skills is not merely about learning new technologies but also about applying them to achieve strategic advantages in leadership roles. "AI skills are particularly transformative for leadership roles as they enable leaders to harness data-driven insights, automate processes, and make informed decisions that can propel their organisations forward," Kumar said. Kashyap Dalal, COO of Simplilearn, said they had observed a similar trend. Breaking the Glass Ceiling The chief operating officer credited the boom in artificial intelligence (AI), among other factors, for the increased participation of women in upskilling. "In the last couple of years, the trend we have seen is that roughly women participation in our programmes has gone up from about 35% or so to 40%-plus," said Simplilearn's Dalal. There is heightened interest among women in sectors such as banking, IT services, and consulting, he said. Dalal highlighted the importance of keeping up with technological changes. "The only way to navigate and make sure that you have a career trajectory that's getting you to a leadership position is all about being on top of change," he added. Simplilearn's data on women seeking AI programmes indicates that 69% do so to learn new skills that will help them find a new job, while 27% seek growth or promotion in their current role. Enrolment in AI programmes Notably, around 30% of women in the 25-35 age group, typically mid-senior level managers, enrol in these programmes. "If there is a glass ceiling that exists, then some of these tools really arm you to break through it," Dalal said on the role of AI and generative AI (genAI) upskilling in overcoming career barriers. Upgrad's Kumar underscored the motivation behind this trend, noting that "upskilling is often seen as a counter-cyclical phenomenon during economic downturns and typically, the highest enrolment rates occur during specific career stages, such as mid-career transitions." Post-pandemic market conditions have also played a crucial role in this upskilling wave. Women professionals have been seen either enhancing their skills for stronger career growth or re-entering the workforce through "returnship" programmes. Upgrad's data reveals that of the 55,000 career transitions recorded in the financial year 2023-24, nearly two-thirds were made by women professionals, further emphasising the significant shift towards continuous learning.
[2]
Women RAIsing their skills game in drive to thrive
New Delhi: Women professionals in India are betting big on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in arming themselves to break through the glass ceiling, upskilling experts said. Shravan Goli, strategic advisor, Coursera, said the surge in enrolments for AI and generative AI courses among women in India is a measure of how highly rated AI skills in the modern workforce are. Comparing the June quarter with the same period a year ago, he said, "When I think about overall GenAI course enrolments for women learners in India, it's about a 700% increase." At Coursera, the number of women in India upskilling themselves in GenAI courses for leadership roles in the same period ballooned from 653 to 6,386. "GenAI-for-executives course enrolment by women learners in India has seen an 870% increase in Q2 of 2024 compared to Q2 of 2023. So, both are phenomenal," Goli said. The engagement in advanced programmes is particularly evident in executive-level courses at Upgrad. Mayank Kumar, cofounder of Upgrad, pointed out that the executive doctorate programmes in generative AI and digital leadership have enrolled over 150 women leaders in less than a year. "Over 95% of our enrolments come from professionals with eight-plus years of experience, reiterating the demand for continuous learning even after spending a substantial career span within the workforce," he said. Integrating AI skills is not merely about learning new technologies but also about applying them to achieve strategic advantages in leadership roles. "AI skills are particularly transformative for leadership roles as they enable leaders to harness data-driven insights, automate processes, and make informed decisions that can propel their organisations forward," Kumar said. Kashyap Dalal, COO of Simplilearn, said they had observed a similar trend. Breaking the Glass Ceiling The chief operating officer credited the boom in artificial intelligence (AI), among other factors, for the increased participation of women in upskilling. "In the last couple of years, the trend we have seen is that roughly women participation in our programmes has gone up from about 35% or so to 40%-plus," said Simplilearn's Dalal. There is heightened interest among women in sectors such as banking, IT services, and consulting, he said. Dalal highlighted the importance of keeping up with technological changes. "The only way to navigate and make sure that you have a career trajectory that's getting you to a leadership position is all about being on top of change," he added. Simplilearn's data on women seeking AI programmes indicates that 69% do so to learn new skills that will help them find a new job, while 27% seek growth or promotion in their current role. Enrolment in AI programmes Notably, around 30% of women in the 25-35 age group, typically mid-senior level managers, enrol in these programmes. "If there is a glass ceiling that exists, then some of these tools really arm you to break through it," Dalal said on the role of AI and generative AI (genAI) upskilling in overcoming career barriers. Upgrad's Kumar underscored the motivation behind this trend, noting that "upskilling is often seen as a counter-cyclical phenomenon during economic downturns and typically, the highest enrolment rates occur during specific career stages, such as mid-career transitions." Post-pandemic market conditions have also played a crucial role in this upskilling wave. Women professionals have been seen either enhancing their skills for stronger career growth or re-entering the workforce through "returnship" programmes. Upgrad's data reveals that of the 55,000 career transitions recorded in the financial year 2023-24, nearly two-thirds were made by women professionals, further emphasising the significant shift towards continuous learning.
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A look at the increasing trend of women upskilling and reskilling to advance their careers and close the gender gap in various industries.
The Rise of Women in Upskilling
In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the number of women actively pursuing upskilling and reskilling opportunities to advance their careers and close the persistent gender gap in various industries. This trend is particularly evident in the technology sector, where women are making substantial strides to enhance their professional capabilities
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.Key Findings from Industry Reports
According to recent industry reports, there has been a notable increase in the representation of women in tech-focused courses. For instance, Coursera's Women and Skills Report 2023 reveals that 47% of new registrations in STEM courses on their platform were women
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. This statistic underscores the growing interest and commitment of women to acquire skills in traditionally male-dominated fields.Popular Areas of Study
The report highlights several key areas where women are focusing their upskilling efforts:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Data Science
- Cloud Computing
- Software Engineering
These fields are not only at the forefront of technological innovation but also offer lucrative career opportunities, making them attractive options for women looking to advance their professional trajectories
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.Motivations Behind the Trend
Several factors are driving this upskilling trend among women:
- Career Advancement: Women are recognizing the importance of continuous learning to stay competitive in the job market.
- Closing the Gender Gap: By acquiring in-demand skills, women are positioning themselves to challenge gender disparities in various industries.
- Adapting to Technological Changes: The rapid pace of technological advancement necessitates ongoing skill development to remain relevant in the workforce.
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Impact on the Workforce
The increasing participation of women in upskilling programs is having a positive impact on the workforce:
- Diversity in Tech: More women entering tech-related fields is leading to increased diversity in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
- Narrowing the Skills Gap: As women acquire new skills, they are helping to address the overall skills shortage in various industries.
- Economic Empowerment: Upskilling is enabling women to access higher-paying jobs and leadership positions, contributing to their economic empowerment.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Women still face barriers such as gender bias, lack of mentorship, and work-life balance issues. However, the trend of women actively pursuing upskilling opportunities signals a positive shift towards greater gender equality in the workforce
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.As more women continue to invest in their professional development, it is expected that we will see a more balanced representation across various industries, particularly in the tech sector. This shift not only benefits individual women but also contributes to the overall growth and innovation in the global economy.
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