Women and the Mine of the Future: A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector in Zambia

This report provides a gendered analysis of employment and skills within Zambia's large-scale mining (LSM) sector. It establishes a baseline of women's participation, identifying significant underrepresentation in technical and leadership roles, pervasive data gaps, and structural barriers such as gender stereotyping and inadequate workplace infrastructure. The document recommends transforming gender policies into actionable, resourced plans, improving the collection of gender-disaggregated data, and promoting STEM education to prepare women for the 'mine of the future'.

• Women are significantly underrepresented in Zambia's large-scale mining workforce, comprising approximately 10% of employees. They are predominantly concentrated in support roles such as administration, human resources, and catering, rather than in technical or operational positions.
• There is a critical lack of standardized, gender-disaggregated data across the Zambian mining sector. National statistics are fragmented, and while some companies collect data, it is not consistently reported by role or seniority, which hinders the ability to monitor progress or inform policy reforms.
• Despite the existence of the National Gender Policy (2014) and the Gender Equity and Equality Act (2015), the mining sector often maintains a 'gender-blind' attitude. Policies are frequently interpreted in a gender-neutral manner that ignores specific impacts on women, and implementation lacks consistency.
• Women in the mining sector face significant workplace challenges, including persistent gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and gender stereotyping. Some employers show reluctance to hire women who express an intention to start a family.
• Workplace infrastructure in the mining sector is often poorly adapted for women. Survey data indicates low access to essential facilities, with only 12.2% of respondents reporting access to daycare support and 30.5% reporting dedicated toilets and change rooms.
• A significant gender gap exists in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and careers in Zambia, which limits the pipeline of women into high-skilled mining roles. In 2019, only 27% of STEM employees were women.
• Women in mining are underrepresented in senior management and plant operations compared to other sectors. Case study data shows only 3.2% of women in mining hold management roles, compared to 44.8% in other sectors.
• The report recommends a shift from general policy to concrete, costed action plans. This includes allocating specific financial and human resources for training, establishing robust impact measurement mechanisms, and implementing gender-responsive recruitment and retention strategies.
• To address the skills mismatch for the 'mine of the future', the report advocates for targeted STEM promotion for girls, including bursaries, paid internships, and the creation of supportive learning environments to challenge gender stereotypes.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Women and the Mine of the Future: A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector in Zambia. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-08/women-mine-of-the-future-zambia.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Women and the Mine of the Future: A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector in Zambia. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-08/women-mine-of-the-future-zambia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Women and the Mine of the Future: A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector in Zambia |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-08/women-mine-of-the-future-zambia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndwomen, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Women and the Mine of the Future: A Gendered Analysis of Employment and Skills in the Large-Scale Mining Sector in Zambia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-08/women-mine-of-the-future-zambia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }