WorldWide Drilling Resource

Women and the Energy Workplace Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® A few decades ago, the oil business was a lonely place for the relatively few women choosing to work in the sector. In recent years, however, the tides have begun to change. Women have more career opportunities in the oil and gas sector than ever before, including not only highly-specialized positions in engineering and geophysics, but also entry-level technical jobs which are increasingly attracting women to the evolving workforce. Major industry players are taking notice of the changing energy workplace. “We want women to know that the oil and gas industry has made tremendous strides in recent years, and that it offers opportunities not provided by other sectors,” said Kirsty Bashforth, group head of organizational effectiveness for BP. A survey released by the American Petroleum Institute (API) last year revealed women account for just 19% of oil sector jobs in the U.S. - compared to 47% of jobs in the country’s overall workforce. Richard Keil, senior media relations adviser for ExxonMobil, voiced concern about this scenario. He said ExxonMobil hires numerous engineers and scientists; in the future, the company aims to fill more of these positions with women. The oil giant hosts “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” every year and sends its female engineers and scientists to middle schools where they reach out to young girls as mentors and instructors. It’s all part of gaining the interest of female students and encouraging them to take more math and science classes at the high school level in preparation to study engineering in college. The API survey also outlined possible solutions to barriers faced by women in the oil and gas industry. One in five respondents strongly agreed gender-based discrimination occurs within the industry. Societal conditioning, lack of qualified candidates, and family care responsibilities were cited as the most significant obstacles to increasing the proportion of women. Putting STEM (sci- ence, technology, engineering, and math) programs into action in schools; offering flexible work accommodations; and reenforcing company goals to encourage more gender balance were proposed as the most influential ways to foster female representation. Regional Colleges in the U.S. are of- fering new options for women interested in working for the demanding yet reward- ing oil and gas industry. In fact, degree programs designed specifically to appeal to women are helping females land jobs immediately upon finishing classes. An energy career can be a winning endeavor for anyone. The industry offers excellent professional pathways to draw and keep talent; exceptional international career opportunities; challenging issues to solve; and above-average pay. As regional colleges continue attracting women to oil and gas programs, the number of women employed in the sector is expected to rise. Across the United States and the rest of the world, where there’s a need for oil and gas workers, women are becoming more and more prepared to fill the gap. New skills are enabling them to reinvent their lives and communities, as well as the oil patch. Image courtesy of macegroup.com 24 FEBRUARY 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DEADLINES: Space Reservation - F EBRUARY 25 TH Display & Classified Ad Copy - M ARCH 1 ST WWDR ’s April issue is in the works! Get in on the action by calling (850) 547-0102