Feb 4, 2020 - Energy & Environment

Women in energy are far less represented than corporate average

Clean-suited worker at Pinella DOE plant developing & producing (ultra-high reliability capacitators) neutron generators for nuclear weapons initiation. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Department Of Ener

Clean-suited worker at Pinella DOE plant in 1979 developing and producing neutron generators for nuclear weapons initiation. Photo: Time Life Pictures/Department Of Energy (DOE)/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

Women have a higher level of underrepresentation in all levels of employment in companies in energy and related industries compared to other sectors.

Where it stands: About one-third of women in oil and gas, utilities and engineering jobs surveyed by consultancy McKinsey say they're usually the only woman in the room.

  • That's often an invitation for systemic challenges and micro-aggressions in the workplace, they found.

By the numbers: The survey found for women in energy, resources, and infrastructure (ER&I) jobs...

  • 38% of women said they needed to provide more evidence of competency compared to 15% of men in their field.
  • 41% of the surveyed women have had their judgement questioned in their area of expertise, compared to 39% of men.
  • 42% of women of color believe they missed out on a promotion because of their race, compared to 3% of white women.

Methodology: McKinsey reviewed 30 companies and survey data from 6,000 respondents in the ER&I sectors.

Go deeper: Women won't see equal pay for another 257 years, report says

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