Women are “ chronically ” under -represented in the oil and gas industry and the sector is losing out by failing to draw on their skills, a study said on Wednesday .
Women account for just 22 percent of workers in the oil and gas sector, said the joint study by the World Petroleum Council and Boston Consulting Group entitled “ Untapped Reserves : Promoting Gender Balance in Oil and Gas” .
But on average , women represent 38 percent of the workforce in major oil producing nations , it said.
Only one percent of the industry’ s CEOs are female.
“ Oil and gas companies are failing to fully leverage a potentially sizeable and critical pool of talent , ” said the report , released on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul .
“ Women have been chronically under -represented in the industry historically and remain so today, ” it said, saying the proportion of women was lower than in any other sector.
The report to a certain extent confirmed stereotypes of the sector as a male- dominated, macho industry, with women almost completely absent from top positions .
It said that although men and women start out on an equal footing , women rarely reach the top of an organisation in the sector.
Those who are employed are also working largely in office roles and not technical jobs , which in this industry is a prerequisite for taking a top job.
The study said the combined effects could ultimately weigh heavily on oil and gas companies ’ ability to increase capital productivity .
“ The industry could boost women ’ s representation steadily and materially over time and reap a host of benefits including improved organisational performance , creativity, decision making and morale, ” it said.
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