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Women in Tech and AI in Europe

More women are graduating from European STEM programs than ever. Fewer are making it into tech roles, and many face challenges progressing. The gap between education and workforce participation has widened, and AI is reshaping both entry pathways and progression into leadership roles.

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According to new McKinsey Technology research, women now hold 33 percent of bachelor’s degrees and 39 percent of PhDs in STEM, but just 19 percent of tech roles in the workforce, down from 22 percent three years ago. The entry-level roles where women are best represented are shrinking fastest, while high-growth roles in AI and data remain disproportionately male.

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This report — with proprietary workforce analysis from Findem and Getro — identifies the structural forces driving attrition and outlines what companies need to do differently to close both the gender and capability gap before the AI transition widens it further.

What you'll learn

  • Why women's share of tech roles is falling even as STEM graduation rates rise
  • How AI-driven demand shifts are concentrating women in roles most at risk of automation
  • What the evidence shows about why many DEI efforts struggle to deliver sustained progress 
  • Three approaches for closing both the gender and capability gap in European tech simultaneously

Download the guide