Women in Argentina enter male-dominated oil and construction sectors

Women in Argentina are increasingly entering traditionally male-dominated sectors, such as oil and construction, as part of new labor trends in the Santa Cruz and Sierra Grande regions.

In Sierra Grande, the VMOS (Vaca Muerta Oil Sur) project has led many women to transition from administrative, teaching, or commercial roles into field operations, security, and maintenance. These roles often involve demanding schedules, sometimes lasting up to twelve hours, which necessitates a reorganization of domestic responsibilities among family members. For many, the shift is driven by the opportunity for higher income and formal employment.

In Río Gallegos, women are also breaking barriers in the construction sector. Through initiatives like the UOCRA Mujeres project and the Santa Cruz government's IDUV, women are participating in housing developments, such as the 120-home project. These workers are gaining technical skills that allow them to contribute to large-scale infrastructure while challenging gender stereotypes in manual trades.