Bridging the Gap Research Project
EHRC Conference – November 6, 2013
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Project Overview
• Bridging the Gap
– Women represent only one quarter of the electricity and
renewable energy workforce
– Need to increase the attraction, recruitment, and retention of
women as skilled workers to the electricity and renewable
energy sector
– Need to develop best practice models that can be used to
support the industry in developing successful relationships
that will positively impact the representation of women in the
sector
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Project Activities
• Secondary Research
– Identification of existing programs/initiatives both within and
beyond the sector to support the attraction, recruitment and
retention of women
• Primary Research
– Key Informant Interviews (54 in total)
– Online Surveys (3)
• Case Study Development
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Primary Research
• Three Key Stakeholder Groups
– Women currently working within the industry
– Women seeking entry into the industry (e.g., students,
apprentices, women seeking career changes,
unemployed/under-employed women)
– Employers, organizations, unions, associations, educational
institutions with existing programs to support the attraction,
recruitment and retention of women
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Preliminary Research Findings
• Online surveys recently closed
• Detailed analysis of all research findings is required
• Preliminary findings and trends can be discussed at a
high-level
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Working within the Industry
• Women of varying:
– Ages
– Years of experience
– Occupational roles (e.g., engineering, trades, technology,
finances, administrative)
• Participation through:
– Online survey
– Key informant interviews (KIIs)
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Working within the Industry
• Why the electrical industry?
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Compensation and benefits
Familial influence (parents, siblings, etc.) in industry
Like the outdoors; working with hands
Love of math and sciences
Challenging and innovative industry
Portable skills
Stable employment
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Working within the Industry
• Barriers/challenges faced
Lack of mentoring/sponsorship
Work/life balance (e.g., overtime, shifts, etc.)
Male-dominated culture
Gender stereotypes and stigmas
Challenges with advancement
Lack of female representation in middle- and upper-level
management roles
– Have to work harder to be taken seriously and have voice
heard
–
–
–
–
–
–
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Working within the Industry
• Perceived retention factors
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Job satisfaction
Compensation, pension, benefits
Job security
Opportunities to learn and grow professionally
Hard-earned success
Challenging and rewarding career
Opportunity to make a difference
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Working within the Industry
• What can Employers do?
– Have more women in senior roles and leadership positions
– Increase awareness (e.g., high schools, communities,
universities/colleges, etc.)
– Work to remove the ‘old boys club’ mentality
– Provide mentoring and flexibility/supports
– Reflect on the realities of female workers within
organizations and act accordingly (e.g., identify systemic
issues and resolve)
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Seeking Employment
• Women from various pathways:
–
–
–
–
–
Secondary school students
University/College students
Apprentices
Women seeking career changes
Unemployed/under-employed women
• Participation from:
– Online survey
– Key informant interviews (KIIs)
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Seeking Employment
• Occupations/Professions of interest
– Majority of online survey participants and many KII
participants expressed interest in engineering profession
within renewable energy sector
– Number of interest indicated a desire to help the
environment, initiate/support green initiatives, conserve
resources and make positive change as factors
• Significantly less identification of trades as career
options – notion of ‘clean’ vs. ‘dirty’ jobs
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Seeking Employment
• Perceived challenges to getting into industry
– Limited training in renewable energy, which is where many
young female engineers want to work
– Not enough information/advertisement about careers while in
university/college
– Challenges getting work hours/apprenticeships to gain
employment in the sector
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Seeking Employment
• What can employers do to enhance recruitment?
– Enhance networking opportunities to gain better
understanding of sector and careers
– Promote careers more during schooling and training to
ensure proper learning path
– Educate community at large about possibilities (e.g., radio,
TV, multi-media, social media)
– Clearly outline expectations and requirements for positions
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Women Seeking Employment
• What can employers do to enhance retention?
– Implement flexible work models and other approaches to
support a work/life balance
– Educate all employees of benefit of having women in the
workplace to breakdown stereotypes
– Develop forums, meeting places, networking opportunities
for women to communicate and share ideas
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Employers/Associations/Educators
• Various types of stakeholders:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Colleges/universities
Women’s advocacy groups
Professional associations
Unions/labour organizations
Charitable organizations
Sector/industry associations
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Employers/Associations/Educators
• What are the challenges/barriers to employment within
the sector?
–
–
–
–
–
Pigeon-holing (e.g., start in admin., stay in admin.)
Perceptions of male-industry, male jobs
Lack of role-models, mentors and networks
Lack of knowledge of training paths and opportunities
Access to apprenticeships to get foot in the door
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Employers/Associations/Educators
• Successful approaches:
– Workplace preparedness (i.e., preparing women to work in
male-dominated settings and assisting to make informed
career choices)
– Assisting women to find appropriate training and
apprenticeship opportunities
– Providing financial support while women complete their
training
– Assisting women to seek employment following training
– Providing opportunities for mentoring and networking
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Employers/Associations/Educators
• Successful approaches cont’d:
– Providing skills assessments and upgrading (e.g., math,
science, physics)
– Introducing young women (in secondary school) about the
opportunities in trades/technology and other non-traditional
roles
– Programs that provide support for upwards of two years, to
assist with their employment journey
– Pre-apprenticeship programs to provide real experiences in
various settings
– Co-op programs
Presentation Title : Sub Title
Final Results
• Additional insights will be presented in the final
project report and case studies in the new year
• Findings from current research and the Alberta
phase will be incorporated
Presentation Title : Sub Title