Executive Summary
02 December 2024
As Australia embarks on its trillion-dollar energy transition, a critical issue demands attention: the urgent need for a diverse, inclusive workforce to power this shift. Without meaningful action, the energy sector risks falling short on innovation, productivity, and attracting the talent, skills and capabilities required for this monumental change. Tapping into the full potential of the labour pool by attracting and retaining gender-balanced workforces is a key lever to address this shortage.
Recent research and WGEA data provide a snapshot of the current state of gender diversity in the energy sector:
- Women constitute only 29% of the electricity workforce and 34% of the gas workforce.
- Women hold 30% of electricity manager roles and 34% of gas manager roles.
- The gender pay gap for median total remuneration is 23.5% in electricity and 18.4% in gas, compared to the all-industry average of 21.8%.
Addressing these gaps must be a social and economic imperative, particularly in a key sector that is reshaping for the future.
Unlocking workforce potential: Women will be key to Australia’s energy transition
Recognising that leveraging women’s skills and expertise is essential to workforce productivity and innovation in the energy transition, Champions of Change Coalition’s Energy sector Members have collaborated with EY to release a new report, Paving the Way: Creating Strong Talent Pathways for Women in Energy.
The report outlines key opportunities for organisations, industry leaders, and governments to build gender-balanced talent pipelines and foster inclusive workplace cultures, ensuring women are equally engaged in and benefiting from the energy transition:
- Collaborating with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) to scale the STELR Program and develop energy industry-specific STEM modules and content.
- Investing in a multi-year, cross-organisation internship program to provide employment and work experience to first-year female students in core STEM degrees.
- Establishing industry-wide work experience and mentorship programs for young girls, providing them with role models and real-world insights into energy careers.
- Amplifying women in energy trade-based careers by developing industry-wide templates for recruitment, learning and training programs.
- Scaling up skilled migration with a focus on women by engaging with and influencing migration policies to make the process faster, more affordable and accessible for women in key skill areas.
- Growing the talent pool by drawing talent from adjacent industries by differentiating the industry employee value proposition for women and increasing the transferability of skills and experiences
The report is the culmination of a year-long collaboration between the Energy Group and EY, involving qualitative interviews with CEOs, HR professionals, women leaders, and industry representatives. It draws on global research and proven strategies to identify barriers to entry and advancement for women in the energy sector and offers innovative pathways to address these challenges.
The opportunities outlined in the report are grounded in the 7 Switches framework for inclusive gender equality by design and provide a roadmap for embedding gender diversity into strategic workforce planning across industries and sectors.
Anna Collyer, Chair of Australian Energy Market Commission said: “We simply cannot scale at the pace required or solve the complex problems of our sector without tapping into the full breadth and diversity of the available talent pool.”
Emma Hawthorne, EY Regional Energy Leader, Oceania said: “Addressing gender imbalance in the energy sector is crucial for scaling at the pace required and solving the complex problems of our sector. By tapping into the full breadth and diversity of the available talent pool, we can build a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient energy sector—one that truly reflects the diverse society it serves.
“If we want to see more women in energy, we need to start early. By collaborating with schools and universities, we can inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers and provide them with the support they need to succeed.”
Annika Freyer, CEO of Champions of Change Coalition said: “Our trillion-dollar energy transition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape our future—and women must be equally represented, engaged in, and benefitting fully from this transformation.
“The Energy Group is committed to ensuring women’s expertise, innovation, and insights are helping to drive this social, environmental, and economic shift. By developing women leaders at every level, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and intentionally encouraging women and girls into energy careers, we can build a sector that is truly equal, innovative, and resilient.”
Daniel Westerman, CEO and Managing Director of Australian Energy Market Operator said: “Members of the Champions of Change Energy Group believe that women bring invaluable skills and capabilities to lead and engage in this once-in-a-lifetime social, environmental and economic transformation. This report is a significant step towards realising this vision.”
The Champions of Change Energy Group was established in June 2023. The Group includes representatives from the energy sector including energy generation and production, distribution, retail and resources businesses across Australia. Members have come together to work within and across their organisations to achieve inclusive gender equality and a significant and sustainable increase in the representation of women in leadership.
