Introduction to the Mexican Mining Sector’s Gender Progress
On International Women in Mining Day, Mujeres WIM México, in collaboration with the University of Guanajuato, unveiled the digital archive “Pioneras: Women Who Revolutionized Mining in Mexico.” This project aims to document the paths of women who broke into a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Background on the Initiative
The partnership with the University of Guanajuato emerged naturally due to the previous work of researcher Laura Zárate, who has been studying female participation in mining for years. Doris Vega, president of WIM México, explained the initiative to media outlets.
Current Gender Statistics in Mexican Mining
According to the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex) data for 2023, out of the 416,000 mining jobs nationwide, 74,529 are held by women, representing 18% of the workforce. However, Vega anticipated that the upcoming data, with a 2024 cutoff, shows an increase to 19%, with around 77,000 women working in the sector—a 90% growth over the past twelve years.
Mining Activity and Women’s Participation
States with significant mining activity, such as Zacatecas and Chihuahua, lead in the number of women employed. Nevertheless, regions like Nuevo León and Mexico City, where mining operations seem absent, also have notable female participation.
Women’s Roles in Mining
Women occupy 12% of executive positions, 35% of administrative roles, 14% of supervisory positions, and 16% of technical roles in mining. The average salary for women in metalurgical mining is 79.3% higher than the national female daily wage.
Challenges for Greater Inclusion
Vega acknowledged that significant challenges remain to achieve greater inclusion, including creating more attractive and secure working conditions to retain female talent and inspiring more young people to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers related to mining. “Beyond the numbers, the true challenge is transforming the culture towards greater equality and inclusion at all levels of the mining industry.”
The Pioneras Platform and Future Collaborations
The Pioneras platform aims to highlight these efforts, providing inspiring stories for future generations of women entering the mining sector. Vega expressed openness to collaborating with other universities, stating, “We intend to keep growing and generating alliances with this or other projects.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of the Pioneras digital archive? The Pioneras archive aims to document the paths of women who have broken into the traditionally male-dominated mining industry in Mexico.
- What are the current gender statistics in Mexican mining? In 2023, women held 18% of the 416,000 mining jobs in Mexico, with approximately 74,529 women employed. By 2024, this figure rose to 19%, with around 77,000 women working in the sector.
- What roles do women occupy in Mexican mining? Women hold 12% of executive positions, 35% of administrative roles, 14% of supervisory positions, and 16% of technical roles in mining.
- What challenges does the Mexican mining sector face regarding gender inclusion? Significant challenges remain, including creating more attractive and secure working conditions for female talent and inspiring more young people to pursue mining-related STEM careers.
- What is the goal of the Pioneras platform? The Pioneras platform aims to highlight efforts towards greater gender inclusion in the mining industry by providing inspiring stories for future generations of women.
