A high concentration of women in AI in Northern Italy is struggling to emerge.
The paper La Dolce Vita Paradox (Interface, September 2025), to which I contributed, analyzes the Italian AI world, highlighting a strong concentration of female talent, especially in the North, and particularly in Milan (AI talent divide).
Highlights:
- Milan leads European cities in female participation in the AI sector,
accounting for 30.7% of AI professionals. - Italy also produces the highest percentage of AI articles published by at least one
female author among OECD countries. - The number of women is high at the beginning of their careers: ~35.4% in entry-
level roles. The sharp decline at senior levels—only ~14.2% reach management
roles—highlights the "leaky pipeline" phenomenon.
Jobs such as those in AI benefit from clearer professional networks and training opportunities, which can attract—or retain—many women compared to other STEM fields.
However, structural challenges remain: lower wages, less stable contracts, and difficulties advancing their careers for those who must balance work and family responsibilities.
The main recommendations:
- strengthen career development programs for women,
- rethink tax incentives with a regional perspective,
- foster the attraction and retention of international talent by simplifying procedures for addressing talent corridors.
