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

The report examines the status of women in Mongolia's large-scale mining sector, analyzing legal frameworks, employment statistics, and skill development. It finds that while legal protections for gender equality exist, deep-seated stereotypes and inflexible working conditions persist. Women are underrepresented in technical roles and decision-making positions, and are more susceptible to layoffs during economic downturns. The report recommends improving gender-disaggregated data collection, implementing flexible work arrangements, and promoting STEM education for women to bridge the gender gap in the evolving mining industry.

• Mongolia has established a legal framework for gender equality, including the Law on Promotion of Gender Equality (2011) and the 'Vision 2050' long-term development policy. However, the implementation of these policies in the mining sector is described as insufficient, with no significant change in gender equality observed.
• Women's representation in the mining sector has declined over the last decade. In 2010, women made up 22.6% of the workforce, but by 2020, this figure dropped to 15.6%.
• Women in the mining sector are more vulnerable to economic volatility than men. During the 2014 downturn, women's employment decreased by 36% compared to 13.6% for men; similarly, during the 2020 pandemic, women's employment fell by 34% while men's fell by 7.4%.
• Gender segregation is prominent in mining occupations. Men dominate technical roles, such as Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers (95.2% male), while women are more concentrated in service, sales (44.8% female), and administrative roles.
• Women in the mining workforce generally have higher educational attainment than men, with 42% of women holding a higher education degree. However, they remain underrepresented in STEM fields and decision-making roles.
• The introduction of a national 14/14-day roster schedule (14 days on, 14 days off) is identified as a key provision to increase women's participation by improving work-life balance.
• A significant gender pay gap exists by responsibility level. According to NSO data, women earn 17-51% less than men in all professional categories except for Technicians and Associate Professionals.
• Women are severely underrepresented in senior leadership. In the three surveyed state agencies, only 24% of managers are women, and the top leadership positions (Minister, Deputy Minister, Secretary of State) are all held by men.
• Mining companies generally lack gender-specific training and retraining programs, particularly for women returning from maternity leave, which can lead to women falling behind their peers in career progression.
• Traditional gender stereotypes continue to influence career choices and hiring. Employers often perceive engineers as men and express concerns about women's family responsibilities during recruitment.

APA

Peltier-Huntley, J., & Otgonbayar, B. (2022). A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Mongolia. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-mongolia.pdf

Chicago

Peltier-Huntley, Jocelyn, and Batbold Otgonbayar. A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Mongolia. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-mongolia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Peltier-Huntley |first1=Jocelyn |last2=Otgonbayar |first2=Batbold |title=A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Mongolia |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-mongolia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{peltierhuntley2022gendered, author = {Peltier-Huntley, Jocelyn and Otgonbayar, Batbold}, title = {{A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector: Mongolia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-mongolia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }