Women in Kazakhstan’s Energy Industries: Implications for Energy Transition

Abstract

Kazakhstan has a relatively high level of overall gender development, as well as of female employment in its energy industries. Diverse views and backgrounds are necessary to address the challenges of curbing emissions in Kazakhstan, a major fossil fuel producer and exporter. However, our analysis of the Labor Force Survey indicates that female representation among energy sector managers and overall workforce has been falling over time. Moreover, we find that women in Kazakhstan’s coal mining, petroleum extraction, and power industries are concentrated in low-skilled and non-core occupations. Next, by analyzing data on labor compensation within energy occupations, we discover signs of persistent vertical discrimination, which may reduce incentives for women to upgrade their skills. Finally, we find that major shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may stall or reverse prior progress in increasing the energy sector’s gender diversity. Our findings contribute to raising gender awareness among the stakeholders in Kazakhstan’s energy sector in order to facilitate evidence-based gender mainstreaming.

Kazakhstani womenʼs participation in online marketplaces: Benefits and barriers

“…In Kazakhstan, courage and the ability to take risks and earn money are traditionally associated with masculinity, while the vision of femininity encompasses modesty, housekeeping, and restraint (Arsyad et al., 2022). Moreover, according to our research, Kazakhstani women are generally exposed to more significant risk than men simply because they are disproportionately represented in different sectors (Atakhanova & Howie, 2022). Thus, many scientific studies are devoted to the gender income gap and stereotypes.…”

“…Women are underrepresented in Kazakhstanʼs energy industry, including in coalmining, petroleum, and electricity generation. Even though womenʼs participation in this sector has increased, the financial rewards for women did not improve (Atakhanova & Howie, 2022). Cultural perceptions of women significantly impact the role they play in society.…”

Impact of Green Fiscal Policy on Investment Efficiency of Renewable Energy Enterprises in Kazakhstan

“…The depreciation of the oil sector by up to 20% in payments in 2020 prompted the initiative in Kazakhstan to focus resources on non-oil sectors with recommendations to develop the sector and its exports (Yarova, et al, 2017). In the analysis by Atakhanova and Howie (2022), the authors follow the gender issue, which presents additional challenges in the energy sector. The effects of gender analysis from the article present the image of a lack of incentives for skill development across different sectors, which hinders progress in the renewable energy sector.…”

“…• Training the unskilled workforce to develop specialized skills • Technology for extracting renewable energy by capitalizing on indigenous talent rather than relying only on importing technical know-how • Encouraging research, incentivizing domestic and international players, and adapting to a Green Fiscal Policy by investing in eco-friendly and renewable energy projects. (Aitzhanova et al, 2014).…”

Degenderisation of paid and unpaid work in Kazakhstan?

“…The recent literature suggests that women still experience gender-based discrimination and gender stereotypes that negatively impact their progress in education and career [5; 6; 7; 8; 9]. Not only in male-dominated field such as energy industry there has been reported decrease of female employees and training incentives for them [7], but in female-dominated area of education women experience the 'leaky pipeline' issue when they are less likely to serve as academic supervisors to influential high-profile graduate students and transfer from academia to government work than men [8]. Moreover, women are not only subject to gender stereotypes preventing them from progressing further, but they also might be the source of the problem by believing in and reinforcing gender stereotypes that men are more fit for the role of business executives than women [9].…”