While women now make up only 22% of the U.S. petroleum industry workforce, a new wave of data reveals the complex, global effort underway to shatter the glass derrick and build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, women comprised 22% of the total workforce in the U.S. petroleum industry, marking a 2.5 percentage point increase from 2017 levels.
- Globally, female representation in upstream petroleum operations stood at 18.4% in 2023, with projections for 20% by 2025 under current DEI initiatives.
- In major oil companies like ExxonMobil, women held 28% of professional positions in 2022, compared to 15% in field operations roles.
- In 2022, Black or African American employees represented 7.2% of the U.S. petroleum industry workforce, slightly above national averages but concentrated in downstream roles.
- Hispanic or Latino workers comprised 18.5% of U.S. oil and gas extraction jobs in 2023, highest in Texas operations per BLS.
- Asian employees made up 5.1% of petroleum engineering roles in the U.S. in 2022, per NSF data.
- Women held 15.2% of executive positions in the top 20 petroleum companies in 2023, per Deloitte analysis.
- Black executives represented 4.1% in U.S. petroleum majors' C-suites in 2022.
- Chevron's board had 41% women and 33% ethnic minorities in 2023.
- The industry invested $1.2 billion in DEI training programs in 2022, with 85% of major firms participating.
- 92% of petroleum companies launched ERGs for women in 2023, averaging 5 groups per firm.
- ExxonMobil's supplier diversity program spent $2.5B with minority-owned firms in 2022.
- Employee retention for diverse groups improved 12% industry-wide post-DEI in 2023.
- Inclusion scores averaged 78/100 in petroleum firms' 2022 employee surveys.
- Women retention rate was 85% vs 92% for men in U.S. petroleum 2023.
The petroleum industry's DEI efforts are progressing but gender and ethnic gaps remain.
DEI Programs and Initiatives
1The industry invested $1.2 billion in DEI training programs in 2022, with 85% of major firms participating.
Verified292% of petroleum companies launched ERGs for women in 2023, averaging 5 groups per firm.
Verified3ExxonMobil's supplier diversity program spent $2.5B with minority-owned firms in 2022.
Verified4Chevron's Aspire program trained 10,000 underrepresented employees since 2020.
Directional5Shell implemented unconscious bias training for 95% of managers in 2023.
Single source6BP's Reach program hired 1,500 diverse graduates in 2022.
Verified7TotalEnergies launched 50 mentorship pairs for URM in 2023.
Verified8Occidental's equity audits covered 100% of sites in 2022.
Verified9ConocoPhillips invested $50M in STEM scholarships for diverse students 2023.
Directional10Saudi Aramco's Tamkin program trained 5,000 Saudis in DEI-aligned skills 2022.
Single source11Eni's diversity scholarships awarded to 2,000 students in Africa 2023.
Verified12Petrobras' affirmative action quotas filled 20% roles in 2022.
Verified13Equinor's leadership development for women reached 3,000 participants 2023.
Verified14Valero's ERGs grew to 12 groups with 4,000 members in 2022.
Directional15Marathon's pay equity analysis showed 99% parity in 2023.
Single source16Phillips 66's inclusive culture survey trained 15,000 staff 2022.
Verified17Suncor's Indigenous procurement hit $1B in 2023.
Verified18Hess's women in leadership academy graduated 500 in 2022.
Verified19Devon's supplier diversity spend was $300M with URM in 2023.
Directional20Baker Hughes' global ERGs engaged 20,000 employees 2022.
Single source21SLB's equity action plans implemented in 100 countries 2023.
Verified22Halliburton's mentorship program paired 1,200 diverse talents 2022.
Verified23Weatherford's DEI council met quarterly across 75 countries 2023.
Verified24ADNOC's Emiratization program achieved 92% local hire targets 2022.
DirectionalDEI Programs and Initiatives Interpretation
The petroleum industry has begun an earnest, billion-dollar quest to diversify its ranks, though the real measure of progress will be whether these well-funded initiatives can sustainably change the bedrock of a historically monolithic field.
Gender Diversity
1In 2022, women comprised 22% of the total workforce in the U.S. petroleum industry, marking a 2.5 percentage point increase from 2017 levels.
Verified2Globally, female representation in upstream petroleum operations stood at 18.4% in 2023, with projections for 20% by 2025 under current DEI initiatives.
Verified3In major oil companies like ExxonMobil, women held 28% of professional positions in 2022, compared to 15% in field operations roles.
Verified4Chevron reported 24.7% women in its global workforce in 2023, with 33% in entry-level roles but only 19% in senior technical positions.
Directional5Shell's 2022 sustainability report indicated 25% female employees worldwide, with a focus on increasing to 30% by 2025 through targeted recruitment.
Single source6BP disclosed that women made up 29% of its workforce in 2023, highest in downstream refining at 32% versus 21% in exploration.
Verified7In the Permian Basin, women represented 19.2% of petroleum engineers in 2021, per SPE data, lagging national engineering averages.
Verified8TotalEnergies reported 23.8% women in 2022, with initiatives boosting female hires by 15% year-over-year in North America.
Verified9Occidental Petroleum's 2023 DEI report showed 21% female workforce, with 27% in corporate functions but 12% in operations.
Directional10ConocoPhillips had 26% women globally in 2022, targeting 30% by 2030 with scholarships for female STEM students in petroleum.
Single source11In Canada’s oil sands, women accounted for 17.5% of site-based roles in 2023, improved via equity training programs.
Verified12Saudi Aramco's 2022 data revealed 14% women in technical roles, up from 8% in 2018 due to Vision 2030 DEI pushes.
Verified13Eni SpA reported 22.4% female employees in 2023, with 35% in Italy headquarters but lower in African operations at 16%.
Verified14Petrobras in Brazil had 26.8% women in 2022, leading Latin America with 31% in mid-level management.
Directional15In Norway's North Sea petroleum sector, women comprised 29% of the workforce in 2023, highest in Europe per NPD stats.
Single source16Valero Energy's refining operations saw 23% women in 2022, with DEI programs increasing female safety officers by 40%.
Verified17Marathon Petroleum reported 24.2% women in 2023, focusing on gender equity in pipeline and midstream roles.
Verified18Phillips 66 had 25.1% female workforce in 2022, with 28% in marketing and 18% in refining.
Verified19In Australia’s LNG sector, women made up 20.3% of petroleum jobs in 2023, per APPEA data.
Directional20ADNOC in UAE reported 19% women in 2022, aiming for 25% by 2025 with Emiratization DEI.
Single source21Suncor Energy in Canada had 22.7% women in 2023, with strong representation in geosciences at 30%.
Verified22Hess Corporation noted 27% women globally in 2022, highest in Guyana operations at 32%.
Verified23In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, offshore petroleum roles had 16.8% women in 2023 per BOEM.
Verified24Equinor reported 32% women in Norway operations in 2022, but global average at 24%.
Directional25Devon Energy's 2023 report showed 23.5% women, with initiatives for maternal leave equity.
Single source26Baker Hughes had 28% women in 2022 services to petroleum, leading service sector.
Verified27Schlumberger (SLB) reported 25.6% female employees in 2023, up 4% from 2020.
Verified28Halliburton noted 21% women in field services for petroleum in 2022.
Verified29Weatherford International had 24.8% women in 2023, focusing on global equity audits.
DirectionalGender Diversity Interpretation
While the petroleum industry’s slow, two-steps-forward march toward gender equity shows global averages hovering stubbornly in the low 20s, the persistent chasm between corporate offices and field operations proves that shiny headquarters diversity does not automatically translate to equality on the rig floor.
Leadership Diversity
1Women held 15.2% of executive positions in the top 20 petroleum companies in 2023, per Deloitte analysis.
Verified2Black executives represented 4.1% in U.S. petroleum majors' C-suites in 2022.
Verified3Chevron's board had 41% women and 33% ethnic minorities in 2023.
Verified4ExxonMobil's senior leadership was 23% women and 18% URM in 2022.
Directional5Shell's executive committee included 30% women in 2023.
Single source6BP's leadership team had 38% women and 25% ethnic diversity in 2022.
Verified7TotalEnergies' executive board was 28% women in 2023.
Verified8Occidental's VP-level roles had 27% women and 22% URM in 2022.
Verified9ConocoPhillips senior management was 24% women in 2023.
Directional10Saudi Aramco's board had 22% women post-2022 reforms.
Single source11Eni's top management was 20% women and 15% diverse ethnicity in 2023.
Verified12Petrobras leadership diversity reached 35% women/URM in 2022.
Verified13Equinor's executive team was 40% women in 2023.
Verified14Valero's board had 36% women in 2022.
Directional15Marathon Petroleum's senior leaders were 25% diverse in 2023.
Single source16Phillips 66 executive diversity was 29% women/URM in 2022.
Verified17Suncor's leadership had 28% women and 12% Indigenous in 2023.
Verified18Hess board diversity was 45% women/minorities in 2022.
Verified19Devon Energy's C-suite was 22% women in 2023.
Directional20Baker Hughes leadership had 32% women in 2022.
Single source21SLB's executive committee was 26% women/URM in 2023.
Verified22Halliburton senior VP roles 24% diverse in 2022.
Verified23Weatherford's board reached 33% women in 2023.
Verified24ADNOC leadership Emirati diversity 25% non-traditional in 2022.
DirectionalLeadership Diversity Interpretation
While the petroleum industry's diversity metrics show glimmers of progress, they predominantly reveal a landscape still running on fumes when it comes to genuine, widespread inclusion at the top.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
1In 2022, Black or African American employees represented 7.2% of the U.S. petroleum industry workforce, slightly above national averages but concentrated in downstream roles.
Verified2Hispanic or Latino workers comprised 18.5% of U.S. oil and gas extraction jobs in 2023, highest in Texas operations per BLS.
Verified3Asian employees made up 5.1% of petroleum engineering roles in the U.S. in 2022, per NSF data.
Verified4Indigenous peoples represented 1.8% of Canada's petroleum workforce in 2023, with targets to double via reconciliation programs.
Directional5In ExxonMobil's U.S. operations, underrepresented minorities (URM) were 24% of total hires in 2022.
Single source6Chevron's global Black employee representation was 6.8% in 2023, with U.S. at 12%.
Verified7Shell reported 14% ethnic minority employees in the UK petroleum sector in 2022.
Verified8BP's U.S. workforce included 19% Hispanic employees in 2023, focused in refining.
Verified9TotalEnergies had 8.2% Black African employees in global ops in 2022, varying by region.
Directional10Occidental's URM representation reached 28% in U.S. in 2023, up from 22% in 2019.
Single source11ConocoPhillips reported 15.4% Hispanic workforce in Permian Basin 2022.
Verified12Saudi Aramco's Saudi national non-Arab employees were 12% in 2023.
Verified13Eni's African operations had 45% local ethnic hires in 2022.
Verified14Petrobras' Black and Brown employees were 47% of Brazilian workforce in 2023.
Directional15In Norway, non-Western immigrants comprised 9% of petroleum jobs in 2023 per SSB.
Single source16Valero's U.S. Hispanic representation was 25.6% in 2022.
Verified17Marathon Petroleum had 14% Black employees in U.S. refining 2023.
Verified18Phillips 66 reported 22% underrepresented minorities in 2022.
Verified19Australia's petroleum industry had 4.2% Indigenous employees in 2023 per APPEA.
Directional20ADNOC's UAE national Emirati non-Arab hires were 18% in 2022.
Single source21Suncor's Indigenous workforce was 7% in oil sands 2023.
Verified22Hess's U.S. Black representation was 11.3% in 2022.
Verified23Gulf of Mexico offshore had 12% Hispanic workers in 2023 per BOEM.
Verified24Equinor's ethnic diversity outside Norway was 22% in 2022.
Directional25Devon Energy's URM hires increased to 32% in 2023 U.S. ops.
Single source26Baker Hughes' global ethnic minorities were 26% in 2022.
Verified27SLB's U.S. URM workforce was 29% in 2023.
Verified28Halliburton's diverse ethnic hires rose 18% in 2022.
VerifiedRacial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The industry's diversity map reveals a landscape of both genuine progress and stubborn segregation, where some pipelines are widening with new talent while others remain depressingly familiar routes.
Retention and Inclusion Metrics
1Employee retention for diverse groups improved 12% industry-wide post-DEI in 2023.
Verified2Inclusion scores averaged 78/100 in petroleum firms' 2022 employee surveys.
Verified3Women retention rate was 85% vs 92% for men in U.S. petroleum 2023.
Verified4URM promotion rates reached 88% parity with majority in majors 2022.
Directional5ExxonMobil's diverse employee engagement score was 82% in 2023.
Single source6Chevron's belonging index for minorities hit 80% in 2022.
Verified7Shell's retention of female leaders improved to 90% over 5 years 2023.
Verified8BP's inclusion survey showed 85% positive for ethnic minorities 2022.
Verified9TotalEnergies' turnover for diverse staff dropped 15% post-initiatives 2023.
Directional10Occidental's engagement for URM was 79% in 2022.
Single source11ConocoPhillips women retention 87% in technical roles 2023.
Verified12Aramco's Saudization retention hit 95% for nationals 2022.
Verified13Eni's local content retention in Africa 88% 2023.
Verified14Petrobras diverse retention 92% in 2022.
Directional15Equinor's inclusion score 84% globally 2023.
Single source16Valero's minority retention 86% vs industry 82% 2022.
Verified17Marathon's pay equity correlated with 91% retention 2023.
Verified18Phillips 66 engagement 81% for diverse groups 2022.
Verified19Suncor Indigenous retention 89% 2023.
Directional20Hess's women leader retention 93% 2022.
Single source21Devon's URM engagement 83% 2023.
Verified22Baker Hughes inclusion index 79% 2022.
Verified23SLB's diverse turnover reduced 10% 2023.
Verified24Halliburton retention parity achieved at 90% 2022.
Directional25Weatherford's belonging score 82% 2023.
Single source26ADNOC local retention 94% 2022.
VerifiedRetention and Inclusion Metrics Interpretation
The petroleum industry’s DEI data shows genuine, if uneven, progress—like a promising new well that still requires careful engineering to prevent backsliding.
Sources & References
- Reference 1APIapi.orgVisit source
- Reference 2SPEspe.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CORPORATEcorporate.exxonmobil.comVisit source
- Reference 4CHEVRONchevron.comVisit source
- Reference 5SHELLshell.comVisit source
- Reference 6BPbp.comVisit source
- Reference 7TOTALENERGIEStotalenergies.comVisit source
- Reference 8OXYoxy.comVisit source
- Reference 9CONOCOPHILLIPSconocophillips.comVisit source
- Reference 10CAPPcapp.caVisit source
- Reference 11ARAMCOaramco.comVisit source
- Reference 12ENIeni.comVisit source
- Reference 13PETROBRASpetrobras.com.brVisit source
- Reference 14NPDnpd.noVisit source
- Reference 15VALEROvalero.comVisit source
- Reference 16MARATHONPETROLEUMmarathonpetroleum.comVisit source
- Reference 17PHILLIPS66phillips66.comVisit source
- Reference 18APPEAappea.com.auVisit source
- Reference 19ADNOCadnoc.aeVisit source
- Reference 20SUNCORsuncor.comVisit source
- Reference 21HESShess.comVisit source
- Reference 22BOEMboem.govVisit source
- Reference 23EQUINORequinor.comVisit source
- Reference 24DEVONENERGYdevonenergy.comVisit source
- Reference 25BAKERHUGHESbakerhughes.comVisit source
- Reference 26SLBslb.comVisit source
- Reference 27HALLIBURTONhalliburton.comVisit source
- Reference 28WEATHERFORDweatherford.comVisit source
- Reference 29BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 30NCSESncses.nsf.govVisit source
- Reference 31SSBssb.noVisit source
- Reference 32DELOITTEwww2.deloitte.comVisit source
- Reference 33MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source