Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most dynamic regions in the global energy transition. Projections indicate that the shift toward low-carbon economies could generate up to 15 million net new jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030, driven mainly by sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and digitalization of the power system.
However, this growth contrasts with a persistent gap in women’s participation in the sector. Although women make up nearly 48% of the global workforce, their representation in the region’s energy sector is only 24%, showing significant underrepresentation in an industry that is strategic for regional progress.
This inequality is also evident in leadership positions. In the region’s renewable generation companies, only 24% of board seats and 22% of management positions are held by women, showing that female leadership still faces structural barriers in the energy sector.
Gender disparities begin as early as the educational stages related to science and technology. In many Latin American and Caribbean countries, fewer than 35% of graduates in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are women, which limits their participation in strategic sectors linked to energy innovation.
Despite this, some countries have shown progress toward greater balance: Uruguay reports 54% of STEM graduates being women; Panama, 48%; and Mexico reaches 47%. These figures show that parity is achievable when appropriate public policies are implemented alongside supportive educational ecosystems.
RedLACME: fostering female leadership in energy
In light of this reality, the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) has been rolling out a regional gender and energy agenda aimed primarily at increasing women’s participation in this strategic field, strengthening their technical skills, and increasing their presence in decision-making spaces.
One of the main instruments is the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Women in Energy (RedLACME), a regional network dedicated to promoting continuous training, technical cooperation, and female leadership throughout this energy transition. Through this platform, OLACDE fosters exchanges among sector professionals, builds capacities focused on strategic areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and digitalization, and generates data and information that account for a gender perspective in order to formulate effective public policies.
For OLACDE, the energy transition is not only about technological or productive change but also represents an opportunity to build more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable energy systems. The organization emphasizes that the energy future of Latin America and the Caribbean will depend significantly on the ability to fully integrate female talent into new energy industries, driving innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable development.
