Women remain an untapped resource in the global energy workforce with only 1 in 5 women working in the sector. Despite the sector’s rapid expansion, social biases and structural factors prevent women from moving beyond entry-level or administrative roles into the high-impact technical jobs
Why This Matters
Nigeria stands to benefit from the 4.7 million jobs projected by 2035 through the global energy transition. Without a clear and actionable strategy to move women from entry-level roles into technical leadership, the country risks a massive talent deficit and miss out on the potential millions of job opportunities.
Women account for only 20% of jobs in the energy sector, as welders, electricians and line workers. Over 60% of them considered leaving their jobs after a year or two due to lack of support and mentorship. This points to the structural bias and lack of infrastructure to boost their participation.
In the energy sector, 64% of the women hold non-STEM positions, 21% occupy administrative roles, and 8% are in STEM roles. After women complete training, they face difficulties transitioning into formal employment due to limited linkage between training and employment.
Bottomline
To bridge the gap between education and a paycheck, infrastructure must be provided for women. This allows female electricians and welders to move beyond general labor and claim their place as specialized leaders in the solar and energy infrastructure sectors and provide a path to economic independence.
Author – Anuoluwa Bukola