Closing gender gap can accelerate green transition argue IMF specialists
The gender gap in STEM education is one of the biggest barriers to women getting green jobs. These skills are essential for engineering, renewable energy, and technology sectors that drive innovation. But women remain underrepresented in STEM fields despite making significant progress in higher education, three specialists at International Monetary Fund (IMF) argue in a blog post published at the IMF’s website.
Closing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and math would accelerate the green transition while making it more inclusive, argue the authors: Stefania Fabrizio, Deputy Unit Chief in Strategy, Policy, and Review, Florence Jaumotte, Division Chief in the Research Department and Marina M. Tavares, economist in the Research Department.
“Men hold about 70% of the world’s polluting jobs, so one might think that they have most to lose from the transition to cleaner energy. After all, they risk finding themselves out of work as countries close down dirty industries in a push to decarbonize and reach net-zero emission targets.”
“Yet our analysis shows that women are also at risk of losing out over the course of the transition. That’s because too few women study the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects that are vital to the green jobs of the future.”
They write that women are much more underrepresented in green jobs than in polluting jobs. And they stress that green jobs command a substantial wage premium over other jobs in the economy, even after accounting for workers’ education and experience.
“Addressing the underrepresentation of women in green jobs has significant economic and environmental consequences. Countries with a bigger share of STEM-educated workers and stronger gender equality policies tend to have steeper reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in response to climate policies.”
“Emissions intensity in these countries is 2 to 4 percentage points lower, our research shows. STEM education drives green innovation and gives workers the skills they need for green jobs.”
“Policymakers should lower these barriers by giving women incentives for STEM education and ensuring equal access to green jobs. This includes early STEM exposure, mentorship, and public-private partnerships.”
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