While the renewable energy sector is experiencing unprecedented growth globally, women remain significantly underrepresented, particularly in technical and leadership positions, according to recent international studies. This disparity highlights a critical challenge in ensuring a truly just and equitable transition to a green economy.
Globally, women constitute approximately 32% of the renewable energy workforce. While this figure is notably higher than their representation in the traditional oil and gas sector (around 22%), it still falls short of their participation in the broader global labour market, which stands closer to 48%. The disparity becomes more pronounced when examining specific roles. Women are more likely to be found in administrative positions, where they hold about 45% of jobs within renewables. However, their presence in crucial Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) roles drops significantly to around 28-30%.
The leadership pipeline shows even starker imbalances. Across the wider energy sector, women occupy only about 20% of senior management positions, with figures for executive board membership often falling below 15%, and CEO roles in some regions as low as 4-10%. In specialized fields like wind energy, women reportedly hold as few as 8% of senior management posts.
Experts point to persistent gender biases, limited access to specialized education and networks, work-life balance challenges, and a lack of visible female role models as key barriers. The perceived gender wage gap, with some reports suggesting women in the energy sector earn almost 20% less than men for similar roles, further compounds the issue. Addressing these systemic challenges is crucial for unlocking the full potential of the renewable energy sector and ensuring its benefits are shared by all.