Women in energy see a positive future ahead
Engineering is the most common job type for women in energy, with only one-fifth of women working in the energy industry saying they specialize in the roles commonly referred to as “pink jobs,” such as administration, according to a new study from NES Global Talent.
The workforce solutions specialists collected and analyzed views from 1,200 female professionals working in the energy sector for its Women in Energy Global Study, which highlights workplace challenges faced by female energy and engineering workers in 2018.
The study also showed that 63 percent of women in energy are their household’s primary wage earners and 30 percent have children.
“Despite the criticism the energy industry often receives, the study shows the status quo is finally being challenged and women are feeling positive about the future,” Vicki Codd, global marketing director, NES, said in a news release.
The study found that 43 percent of clean energy respondents viewed the energy sector as inclusive. Responding to the survey question of what their company could do to be more inclusive of women, top responses were more flexibility in working and better communication.
New Jersey-based SJI encourages leadership opportunities for women, resulting in a growing team of female executives.
“For the first time in our company’s history, we have more female direct reports to the CEO than male,” Mike Renna, SJI president and CEO, told American Gas. “All of these exceptional leaders continue to make us stronger through their expertise, perspective and commitment.”
Christie McMullen is one of them. She’s a utilities veteran bringing nearly 30 years of engineering and operations expertise to her new role as president of Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas, SJI subsidiaries.
“I’m incredibly proud of the progress that both our industry and SJI have made in elevating the profiles of female professionals in leadership roles,” Donna Schempp, vice president, risk management, SJI, told American Gas. “Developing talent with an eye toward greater inclusion has been a high priority for our organization over the last five years, and it’s an investment that benefits our employees, our customers and our investors as it drives the success of SJI.”