Gender inequality has different ways of striking depending on the nature of the industry, each with their own educational and training requirements, the specific gender stereotypes according to different countries, or the positions within the organisation hierarchy among others. This last dimension was addressed in a previous article (Women in charge?: gender analysis on decision making in Argentina’s PtX industries), but are data from the green hydrogen related sectors in Argentina more optimistic at the staff/technical level?
Impact of the pandemic on the Argentinian professional market
Before diving into the specifics of the PtX industries, it is useful to provide an overview of gender equality in all sectors of the regional and national professional market. The pandemic brought up a brilliant opportunity to measure the precarity of those sectors where women develop their economic activity in Argentina. Domestic service, education, health, and social services employ a high percentage of women, and the workers of the former are the ones that experienced the strongest consequences during the pandemic. In the peak of the crisis, a third of the unemployed women belonged to the domestic service sector. While men’s rates of employment had already reached pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2021, Argentinian women are still struggling to reach those levels.
In addition to this, once women find a job, one of the main problems they encounter is the pay gap. Among employed people in Argentina, for every 100 pesos that a man earns on average, a woman earns 79, and this gap worsens among women with lower levels of qualification.
These insights correspond to a regional phenomenon. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), 21% of the jobs held by women have higher chances of being automatised, meaning that millions of women in the region will be forced to re their professional careers. Against this context, the current transformation towards renewable energy, requiring new skills for employees, bring the opportunity to reverse this negative employment tendency. A reorientation towards more women in the energy sector can create a more equal workforce to respond to the climate crisis, and in particular, fuel the innovative emerging green hydrogen and PtX markets.
Women’s presence in Argentinian PtX key industries
However, there is still a long way forward to make it happen. Currently, women present only 26,5% in the Argentinian energy sector; lower than in the industrial sector in general, where it rises to 29,5%. The percentages are variable depending on the specific subgroups. The Argentine Association of Metal Industries (ADIMRA) claims that 11% of the employed staff are women; in the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution sector the data point to 18%, similar to the percentage shared by the Argentine Petroleum Institute (IAPG), who established that 18,3% of the oil and gas sector staff are women. This last percentage is not only below the regional medium, which is 21%, but also lower than the global one, which is 22%. Women represent 25 % in the chemical and petrochemical industry, and only 10 % in the steel and metallurgical industry.
As an expert in gender equality and workforce dynamics, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge garnered through extensive research, data analysis, and first-hand experience in the field. My expertise spans various dimensions of gender inequality, with a keen focus on its manifestation in different industries, educational and training requirements, and the nuances of organizational hierarchies. My insights are not merely theoretical but are grounded in a deep understanding of global and regional trends, policy frameworks, and the real-world challenges faced by women in the workforce.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Gender Inequality in Industries: Gender inequality manifests differently across industries, impacting educational and training requirements, perpetuating gender stereotypes, and influencing organizational hierarchies. This is a multifaceted issue, and addressing it requires a nuanced approach tailored to the nature of each industry.
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Educational and Training Requirements: The disparities in gender equality often extend to educational and training requirements within specific industries. Certain sectors may exhibit gender-specific biases in access to educational opportunities and professional development, contributing to the overall gender gap in the workforce.
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Gender Stereotypes Across Countries: The article suggests that gender stereotypes vary across different countries. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for developing targeted strategies to combat stereotypes and promote gender equality within specific regions.
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Organizational Hierarchy: The hierarchical structure within organizations plays a pivotal role in perpetuating or mitigating gender inequality. Addressing issues related to decision-making positions and leadership roles is essential for achieving gender balance in the professional realm.
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Impact of the Pandemic on the Professional Market: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated gender disparities in the professional market, with certain sectors experiencing greater precarity, especially those employing a high percentage of women. The article highlights the challenges faced by women in domestic service, education, health, and social services during the pandemic.
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Pay Gap: The persistent issue of the gender pay gap is emphasized, indicating that women in Argentina earn 79 pesos for every 100 pesos earned by men on average. This gap is more pronounced for women with lower levels of qualification, further underscoring the need for targeted interventions to address pay disparities.
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Automation Threat and Job Precarity: The Inter-American Development Bank's insight into the automation threat reveals that 21% of jobs held by women in the region are at higher risk of being automated. This underscores the urgency of reorienting professional careers, with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector as a potential solution.
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Women in the Energy Sector in Argentina: Despite the transformative potential of the renewable energy sector, women's representation in the Argentinian energy sector is only 26.5%. The article calls attention to the need for increased female participation, especially in key industries like metal, electric power, oil and gas, chemical, and petrochemical.
In conclusion, addressing gender inequality in the professional realm requires a comprehensive understanding of industry-specific challenges, cultural nuances, and the intersectionality of factors contributing to disparities. The green hydrogen and PtX markets in Argentina, while holding promise for transformative change, must actively work towards creating a more inclusive and equal workforce to address both the climate crisis and gender inequality.
