Tuesday 10 December 2013

Oil and gas sector struggles to attract women

The oil and gas industry continues to be male-dominated across the globe and struggles to attract women, according to a new study which also hints discrimination still occurs.

That is despite an improvement in career prospects for women in recent years, claims the survey of 3,000 oil and gas professionals.

More than 60% said they expect the greatest increase in female representation to be among those just entering the industry or early in their career.

One in five “strongly agreed” that gender-based discrimination occurs within the industry and referred to social conditioning, a lack of qualified candidates and family care responsibilities as the most significant barriers.

They suggested implementing the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) programme in schools, offering flexible working hours and setting company goals as the most important ways of increasing female representation in the industry.

Kirsty Bashforth, Group Head of Organisational Effectiveness at BP, which conducted the survey with oil and gas firm Rigzone said: "We want women to know that the oil and gas industry has made tremendous strides in recent years and that it offers opportunities not provided by other sectors. Whether working internationally or domestically, onshore or offshore, the possibilities are endless."