Filipino women are completing generative artificial intelligence courses at a slightly higher rate than men despite remaining underrepresented in enrollments, according to a new report released by global online learning platform Coursera Inc.
The report titled “One Year Later: The Gender Gap in GenAI” found that women in the Philippines complete GenAI courses at rates 0.3 percentage points higher than male learners, indicating strong persistence once women gain access to high-quality training opportunities.
Coursera said women accounted for 39.1 percent of GenAI course enrollments in the Philippines in 2025, up from 38.4 percent in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.8 percentage points.
The findings suggest that the main barrier limiting women’s participation in GenAI learning may be access rather than ability or motivation, highlighting the need to lower entry barriers and expand pathways to AI education.
The Philippines has long been recognized as one of Asia’s leaders in gender equality, ranking 20th globally in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 due to progress in women’s education and economic participation.
Coursera said expanding access to AI skills will be critical as technologies such as artificial intelligence reshape industries and employment, ensuring women can fully participate in the country’s expanding digital economy.
The report also found that beginner-friendly GenAI courses that emphasize practical applications tend to attract higher female participation worldwide.
One example is a Social Media Management course offered by Meta, which recorded female enrollment of 65.4 percent in the Philippines.
Application-focused GenAI courses across the platform that cover areas such as education, productivity tools and workplace integration have also seen female participation approach parity in some cases.
Coursera said these courses frame generative AI as a practical tool for productivity and problem-solving rather than abstract technical theory, often connecting AI tools to goals such as improving teaching, writing and creative work.
The company said presenting AI skills in ways that are practical, accessible and directly linked to career relevance appears to broaden participation among learners.
Coursera learning science research lead Alexandra Urban said platform data shows Filipino women demonstrate strong persistence and commitment in mastering generative AI skills once they gain access to learning opportunities.
Urban said the Philippines has a large pool of motivated women and that expanding access to GenAI education could unlock significant talent in the country.
Beyond generative AI training, the report also found strong momentum among female learners in developing human skills such as critical thinking.
Women account for 46.5 percent of critical thinking course enrollments in the Philippines, indicating they are building the combination of technical and human skills needed to use generative AI effectively and responsibly.
Coursera said expanding equitable access to AI education will be crucial as the Philippines pursues its goals for digital and artificial intelligence transformation.
The report outlined several approaches to support more inclusive participation, including designing beginner-level courses with clear real-world applications, ensuring visible representation and inclusive teaching methods, expanding access through localization and partnerships, and pairing GenAI skills with complementary human capabilities such as critical thinking.
The latest data, released a year after Coursera published its earlier playbook on closing the gender gap in generative AI skills, shows progress in women’s participation while highlighting opportunities to accelerate change.
Coursera said rising female participation in the Philippines alongside higher completion rates signals growing momentum and underscores the importance of expanding access to AI learning so women can play a leading role in shaping the future of the technology.
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