Women in Oil and Gas: Driving Change and Breaking Barriers in 2025

 Houston, USA

The oil and gas industry is witnessing a transformative shift in 2025, with women increasingly taking on leadership roles, driving innovation, and shaping the sector’s sustainability agenda. Despite persistent gender gaps, women are breaking barriers in this traditionally male-dominated field, leveraging education, technology, and advocacy to advance their careers. This article explores the critical contributions of women in the oil and gas industry, highlighting their impact amid global market challenges and the energy transition.

Growing Representation in Leadership

Women’s representation in oil and gas leadership is steadily increasing, though challenges remain. In 2025, women hold 15% of senior executive roles globally, up from 10% in 2020, according to a McKinsey report. Leaders like Vicki Hollub, CEO of Occidental Petroleum, and Gretchen Watkins, former president of Shell Oil Company, exemplify women driving strategic decisions. Companies like ExxonMobil and BP have set targets to increase female leadership to 20% by 2030, supported by mentorship programs and diversity initiatives. However, a 2025 Deloitte survey notes that only 25% of women in the industry feel their workplace fully supports gender equity, underscoring the need for systemic change.

Women in Technical and STEM Roles

Women are making significant strides in technical roles, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields critical to the industry’s digital transformation. In 2025, women account for 22% of STEM roles in oil and gas, up from 18% in 2020, driven by increased access to education and training. AI and data analytics teams, led by women like Dr. Amy McCart, a machine learning expert at Chevron, are optimizing exploration, boosting recovery rates by 8% in fields like the Permian Basin. The adoption of digital twins and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies has created new opportunities, with women leading 30% of AI-driven projects at Saudi Aramco in 2024.

Advancing Sustainability and ESG Initiatives

Women are at the forefront of the industry’s sustainability push, driving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. Leaders like Sarah Ladislaw, head of sustainability at TotalEnergies, are shaping carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects, with facilities like ExxonMobil’s LaBarge capturing 8 million metric tons of CO2 annually. Women-led teams are also reducing methane emissions, with Shell’s female engineers implementing AI-powered monitoring to cut leaks by 7% in 2024. In 2025, 40% of sustainability roles in major firms are held by women, reflecting their pivotal role in aligning the industry with net-zero goals by 2050, though cost barriers limit broader CCUS adoption, as noted by 45% of executives in a Deloitte survey.

Workforce Challenges and Retraining Opportunities

The industry’s workforce is undergoing significant changes, with automation leading to 10,000 job cuts globally in 2024–2025. Women, who represent 22% of the oil and gas workforce, are disproportionately affected, with 3,000 female job losses reported. However, retraining programs are creating opportunities, with 2,000 women transitioning to roles in renewables, CCUS, and digital operations by 2027, supported by $150 million in industry-led initiatives. Programs like BP’s Women in Energy Fellowship are training 500 women annually in AI and renewable energy technologies, fostering career resilience amid a projected 1.7 million b/d oil surplus by early 2026, which could push Brent crude prices from $68 per barrel in August 2025 to $50 per barrel in Q1 2026.

Women in Petrochemical and Supply Chain Roles

The petrochemical sector, projected to drive 18–20% of global oil demand by 2040, is seeing increased female participation. Women lead 25% of supply chain optimization projects at Sinopec, using AI to reduce logistics costs by 8% in 2024. Female engineers at Saudi Aramco’s Jafurah project are driving ethylene production, targeting 2 million metric tons annually by 2027. Despite these advances, women face challenges in male-dominated field operations, with only 15% representation in upstream roles. Mentorship and networking initiatives, such as Women in Energy Global, are helping bridge this gap, supporting 5,000 women professionals in 2025.

Navigating Geopolitical and Market Pressures

Geopolitical risks, including tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, handling 21% of global petroleum liquids, and the EU’s March 2025 ban on Russian LNG re-exports, are impacting women-led projects. Female executives at Cheniere Energy are steering LNG export strategies, capitalizing on Europe’s 23.6% import surge in H1 2025. Women in supply chain roles are also mitigating disruptions, with blockchain adoption led by female teams at QatarEnergy reducing transaction costs by 7%. These efforts are critical as companies navigate trade sanctions and a potential LNG glut starting in 2026.

Breaking Barriers Through Advocacy and Inclusion

Advocacy groups and corporate initiatives are driving inclusion. Organizations like Women’s Energy Network and Pink Petro are empowering women through leadership training and networking, with membership growing by 20% in 2025. Companies are implementing flexible work policies, with 60% offering hybrid models to support women, though only 30% of female workers report adequate career advancement opportunities. Addressing unconscious bias and improving workplace safety in field operations remain priorities, with Chevron launching a $10 million diversity program in 2025 to enhance inclusion.