Over the past decade, international organizations have increasingly incorporated gender considerations into energy policies and programs. Global institutions such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank have adopted frameworks promoting women’s participation in the energy sector. Recent data indicate that women remain significantly underrepresented across the global energy industry despite growing recognition of the importance of gender inclusion. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), women account for approximately 32% of full-time employment in the renewable energy sector worldwide. Although this proportion is considerably higher than in conventional energy industries such as oil and gas, where women account for approximately 22% of the workforce, progress has largely stagnated over the past several years. Women are particularly underrepresented in STEM-related occupations, medium-skilled technical positions, and senior leadership roles.
Analysis of sectoral distribution reveals important variations. Women represent approximately 40% of employment in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry but only 21% in the wind energy sector, reflecting persistent occupational segregation and barriers to technical employment.
Many countries now include gender objectives within national energy strategies, reflecting a broader recognition that diversity contributes to innovation, institutional effectiveness, employment and sustainable development outcomes.
The renewable energy sector has become a significant source of employment opportunities for women. Compared to traditional fossil fuel industries, renewable energy industries generally demonstrate higher levels of female participation. Women increasingly engage in solar energy distribution, project management, engineering, customer service, community outreach, and entrepreneurship. The decentralized nature of many renewable energy technologies has lowered entry barriers and expanded opportunities for women-led enterprises.
Global trends indicate gradual improvement in women’s representation within energy leadership positions. Women now occupy increasing numbers of executive roles in energy companies, government agencies, research institutions, and international organizations. A review of management representation shows that women occupy less than one-fifth of senior management positions within renewable energy companies, despite constituting nearly one-third of the workforce. This leadership gap suggests that increased workforce participation alone is insufficient to achieve gender equality in energy governance.
Table 1: Global Women’s Participation in Selected Energy Subsectors
| Energy Sector | Women’s Share of Employment (%) |
| Renewable Energy (Overall) | 32 |
| Solar PV | 40 |
| Wind Energy | 21 |
| Oil and Gas | 22 |
| Global Labour Force Average | 48 |
Sources: IRENA Gender Reports (2025).
Nevertheless, leadership gaps remain substantial. Women continue to be underrepresented on corporate boards, regulatory authorities, and technical advisory bodies. The “glass ceiling” phenomenon remains evident across much of the sector. The evidence demonstrates that women’s participation in energy is increasing but remains far below its potential. Renewable energy technologies are creating new opportunities because they rely less on traditional industrial structures and more on decentralized, knowledge-intensive, and service-oriented business models.
The African energy transition presents a unique opportunity to address two development challenges simultaneously: energy poverty and gender inequality. Investments in solar energy, mini-grids, clean cooking technologies, and green hydrogen industries can generate substantial employment opportunities for women while expanding energy access.
The African Development Bank and Sustainable Energy for All Unveil Strategic African Program Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to connect 300 million Africans to electricity, together with growing climate finance commitments and renewable energy investments, could provide a platform for significantly increasing women’s participation in Africa’s energy future.
Digital transformation is reshaping energy systems through smart grids, artificial intelligence, energy storage technologies, and data analytics. These developments are creating demand for new skills and competencies that may facilitate greater participation by women. Digital technologies also offer flexible working arrangements that can help address some of the barriers traditionally faced by women in technical professions.
