According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), female representation in the global energy sector is low, with only one in five positions held by women. Although participation in renewable energies is somewhat higher, the gender gap remains significant globally.
In the case of Spain and according to data published in a recent study prepared by the Closingap association, the energy transition sectors have experienced sustained expansion in the last decade, generating more than half a million net jobs and employing more than 2.8 million people in 2024. However, a marked gender gap persists since only 24% of the positions are occupied by women – that is, one in four employed people. -Despite the fact that they have higher educational levels, specifically 38% have university studies compared to 20% of them.
In the same direction, a study by the Naturgy Foundation reveals that, in 2022, women represented only 18.2% of employment in the energy transition, compared to 47% in the general economy. Furthermore, 44% of women in the sector occupy administrative positions, while only 13.8% of men perform these types of functions. On the contrary, men predominate in technical and highly qualified roles, with 62.3% employment compared to 24.2% for women.
In short, according to the Naturgy Foundation report, although the female presence in energy companies increases, the most highly qualified jobs continue to be occupied mainly by men, while women continue to perform administrative functions.
In this way, female participation in positions of responsibility and technical profiles remains limited, although progress is observed among the younger generations, especially in university training and leadership, where the ratios are gradually improving.
Regarding leadership, although the female presence on boards of directors and senior management has grown significantly in recent years, there is still a glass ceiling, especially in senior management positions. IBEX-35 companies are leading this change, approaching levels of parity and demonstrating a growing commitment to diversity.
The report also highlights some positive data: in the case of large companies, opportunities for upward mobility and female leadership are advancing and in six years the presence of women in strategic positions has doubled, bringing the sector closer to parity.
Cultural barriers and the lack of references also continue to condition job placement, despite growing female concern and commitment to climate change. According to data from the Sociological Research Center (CIS), women, regardless of age, show greater concern and support for renewable energy policies, considering them an opportunity for economic and social development.
Opportunity sector
Gender inequality in the energy sector not only represents an equity problem, but also a wasted economic opportunity. According to the Closingap study, equalizing participation between men and women could increase the national GDP by more than 122 billion euros annually, equivalent to 7.7% of the GDP in 2024. This shows, in the opinion of the authors of the report, that the gender gap implies a loss of competitiveness, and that reducing it would generate important economic and social benefits.
Furthermore, as stated in the report, the energy transition sectors are expanding and demand new professional profiles, representing a key opportunity for women who, however, continue to register a low presence in Vocational Training and university studies linked to energy, fundamentally due to cultural factors, lack of references and the persistence of stereotypes. Despite the increase in graduates, only 11% access employment in the sector, compared to 23% of men, which demonstrates the need to connect female talent with real opportunities.
In this scenario, experiences such as those carried out by the Naturgy Foundation with the organization of professional training courses, aimed at the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic solar systems and aimed exclusively at unemployed women on the job boards of the Institute for Just Transition (ITJ), represent a great advance. For María Eugenia Coronado, director of the Foundation, “by incorporating more female talent into the sector we contribute to balancing the presence of more women in the area of sustainability and renewable energy, which offers great green employment opportunities.”
Energy poverty and recommendations
The study also reflects how energy poverty especially affects households headed by women, pensioners and single parents, who allocate a greater proportion of their income to energy and suffer more difficulties in maintaining ideal conditions in their homes. Furthermore, among these households, delays in bills for energy services and household supplies are more frequent.
Finally, the study includes a series of recommendations to close the inequality gap, among others, promoting the training and access of women to technical and scientific paths, where their presence is still very low, especially in Vocational Training related to energy and digitalization.