A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Brazil

The report finds that while the Brazilian large-scale mining sector is experiencing a process of feminization—with female employment increasing by 127% between 2009 and 2019—significant gender gaps persist in remuneration, leadership representation, and the division of labor. Women in the sector are generally younger and more educated than their male counterparts, often holding advanced degrees even in technical roles, yet they continue to earn less in most occupations. While some companies are implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) strategies, such as targeted training and adapted uniforms, the report argues that deep-rooted cultural biases and a 'masculinization' of female roles remain primary obstacles to true gender equivalence.

• The Brazilian large-scale mining sector has seen a significant increase in female employment, growing by 127% between 2009 and 2019, compared to a 110% increase for men. By 2019, women represented 14% of the total workforce in the sector.
• Women in the Brazilian mining sector are proportionally more educated than men; on average, 56% of women had an advanced level of education compared to 28% of men.
• A persistent gender wage gap exists across most mining occupations. Women managers earn only 71% of what men in the same role earn, and women with advanced education earn an average of 84% of men's wages.
• Female employment is heavily concentrated in iron ore companies (77% of women in 2019) and primarily in the southeast and northern regions of Brazil, although there is a trend toward regional decentralization.
• Women are increasingly entering traditionally male-dominated technical roles, such as mid-level technicians and maintenance and repair, with these roles showing high growth in female participation between 2009 and 2019.
• Despite quantitative growth, women remain underrepresented in leadership; only 11% of Executive Boards in surveyed companies are composed of women, and only 18% of participants in leadership development programs are female.
• Cultural barriers and sexist stereotypes continue to hinder women's progress, including the assumption that women in remote areas are only there to accompany their husbands or the belief that professional competence is incompatible with physical appearance.
• Some companies are implementing DE&I measures, such as adapting uniforms for women and pregnant employees, and creating anonymous reporting channels for moral and sexual harassment.
• In the coal mining sub-sector, specifically in a case study of a company in the south region, women hold strategic leadership roles but are almost entirely absent from technical and mechanical roles due to a perceived lack of interest and cultural discomfort.

APA

Blundi, M. D. S. (2022). A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Brazil. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-brazil.pdf

Chicago

Blundi, Maria Domenica Serpa. A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Brazil. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-brazil.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Blundi |first1=Maria Domenica Serpa |title=A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Brazil |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-brazil.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{blundi2022gendered, author = {Blundi, Maria Domenica Serpa}, title = {{A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Brazil}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-brazil.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }