WOMEN AND THE MINE OF THE FUTURE

The report examines the status of women in Peru's large-scale mining sector, finding that female labour force participation remained relatively constant at around 6% between 2010 and 2019. Women are primarily concentrated in administrative roles, with significantly lower representation in managerial (11%), operational (5%), and staff (4%) positions. The study identifies structural barriers including 'machismo', a lack of women in STEM education (only 30% of graduates in mining-related courses are women), and challenges in retaining female staff after childbirth. It also notes a gross gender wage gap in the sector of 6% in 2019, though this gap is higher in specific roles such as operators (34%). The document recommends incentives for women in STEM, improved recruitment processes, greater labour flexibility for parents, and increased transparency in employment data.

• Female labour force participation in the Peruvian mining sector remained relatively stable at approximately 6% from 2010 to 2019.
• Women's employment in the mining sector is heavily concentrated in administrative roles, while representation in other categories is much lower: managerial positions average 11%, operational positions 5%, and staff 4%.
• There is a significant gender gap in education for mining-related fields, with women representing only about 30% of those enrolled and graduating from these courses.
• A gross gender wage gap exists in the Peruvian mining sector; in 2019 it was 6% overall, but significantly higher for operators at 34%.
• Women's participation in large-scale mining varies by activity stage, with the highest average participation in the exploration stage (10%) and the lowest in the exploitation stage (6%).
• Contracting companies have the lowest female labour participation in large-scale mining, averaging around 4%, likely because they primarily perform operational work.
• The report identifies 'machismo' and traditional perceptions of gender roles as primary barriers that limit women's participation and retention in the industry.
• Retaining female personnel after childbirth is cited as one of the most significant challenges for large-scale mines in Peru.
• Government expenditure on research and development (R&D) for the Energy and Mines sector is low, representing only 3% of total R&D spending between 2016 and 2021.

APA

Peltier-Huntley, J., & Vaccaro, G. (2022). WOMEN AND THE MINE OF THE FUTURE. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-peru-en.pdf

Chicago

Peltier-Huntley, Jocelyn, and Giannina Vaccaro. WOMEN AND THE MINE OF THE FUTURE. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-peru-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Peltier-Huntley |first1=Jocelyn |last2=Vaccaro |first2=Giannina |title=WOMEN AND THE MINE OF THE FUTURE |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-peru-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{peltierhuntley2022women, author = {Peltier-Huntley, Jocelyn and Vaccaro, Giannina}, title = {{WOMEN AND THE MINE OF THE FUTURE}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-04/women-mine-of-the-future-peru-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }