Women in the environmental and clean technology sector

The Environmental and Clean Technology (ECT) sector in Canada plays a significant role in the nation's economy and efforts to combat climate change. Statistics Canada defines the ECT sector as encompassing activities related to environmental protection, resource optimization, and the use of energy-efficient goods. In 2021, the sector contributed 2.9% to Canada's GDP and employed 314,257 individuals, representing 1.6% of the national workforce. This study uses data from the Environmental and Clean Technology Products Economic Account to provide a comprehensive analysis of the sector's workforce diversity. This paper focuses on the representation of women in the ECT sector, highlighting their underrepresentation and examining their compensation relative to men across various demographics, including age, education, and occupation. Women comprised 28.6% of the ECT workforce in 2021, with a higher presence in service-related jobs compared to goods production. They were more likely to have postsecondary education but face a gender pay gap, earning on average 16.3% less than their men counterparts. The paper further explores the intersectionality of gender with Indigenous, racialized, and immigrant identities, highlighting the additional challenges these groups could face. For instance, among immigrants, Indigenous peoples, and the racialized population, women were underrepresented in the ECT sector and faced a compensation gap compared to their men counterparts.