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Navigating sticky floors and glass ceilings: Barriers and opportunities for women's employment in natural resources industries in Canada

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  • Bipasha Baruah
  • Sandra Biskupski‐Mujanovic

Abstract

Women make up almost half the Canadian labour force and more than 50% of post‐secondary students. However, in natural resources (NR) industries (energy, mining, forestry), they represent less than 20% of the workforce, face persistent wage gaps, hold traditionally gendered roles (in sales, administrative and support services) instead of technical or managerial positions, and are persistently absent from leadership roles. Retention of women is also a big challenge in these industries: many tend to leave their jobs within the first five years of employment, and/or after one or more maternity leaves. Women are very poorly represented in leadership positions (as senior executives and board members) despite significant evidence that gender diversity in leadership is good for business. Findings from our study of the status of women in NR employment in Canada produced concrete policy recommendations for recruiting, retaining, and promoting women in energy, mining, and forestry. Although these are intended specifically for Canadian organisations, they may also be relevant for other countries where women are underrepresented in NR industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Bipasha Baruah & Sandra Biskupski‐Mujanovic, 2021. "Navigating sticky floors and glass ceilings: Barriers and opportunities for women's employment in natural resources industries in Canada," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(2), pages 183-205, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:45:y:2021:i:2:p:183-205
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12216
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bipasha Baruah, 2017. "Renewable inequity? Women's employment in clean energy in industrialized, emerging and developing economies," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(1), pages 18-29, February.
    2. Marcus Noland & Tyler Moran & Barbara Kotschwar, 2016. "Is Gender Diversity Profitable? Evidence from a Global Survey," Working Paper Series WP16-3, Peterson Institute for International Economics.
    3. Westermann, Olaf & Ashby, Jacqueline & Pretty, Jules, 2005. "Gender and social capital: The importance of gender differences for the maturity and effectiveness of natural resource management groups," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1783-1799, November.
    4. Turnbull, Peter, 2013. "Promoting the employment women in the transport sector: obstacles and policy options," ILO Working Papers 994843393402676, International Labour Organization.
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