Green transition and gender bias: An analysis of renewable energy generation companies in Latin America

Abstract

This study analyzes how the energy transition might change gender bias in power-generating industries. We employ a sample of 102 renewable energy generation companies from six countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, and Uruguay. The analysis shows that renewable generation companies with the highest relative efficiency in the labor-capital ratio are those with the highest participation of women. In addition, the results show that renewable companies are incrementing recruitment of women in energy generation; however, their participation is still lower than the sectorial average. Considering the companies' size, bigger renewables companies tend to hire more women, but those women occupy mostly non-technical positions. In addition, women's participation decreases in positions requiring higher education. Women represent 38 % of STEM employees, 54 % of non-STEM employees, and 55 % of non-qualified employees among the total of people employed in generation companies. This trend is even more acute for renewable energy generation companies, where women represent 36 % of STEM employees, 39 % of non-STEM employees, and 48 % of non-qualified employees. Concerning the role of women in decision-making roles within energy companies, wide gender gaps exist in executive and management positions; the proportion of females in the boardroom and in management roles for renewables generation companies was 24 % and 22 %, respectively. Furthermore, 68 % of surveyed companies did not have a gender policy in place. This study confirms that a change in technology alone does not generate qualitative changes in the labor market from a gender perspective.