Why Is Uzbekistan Losing Its Women Engineers?

Although the number of women engineers in Uzbekistan has grown, many are leaving the profession — pushed out by family pressure, hiring barriers and, especially in energy, poor workplace conditions.

The numbers

• Women among STEM graduates: 40.2% (2021; 32.6% in 2017)
• Women in the energy sector: ~12%
• At one energy college: only 16 of 100+ admitted were women
• Labour-force participation gap: 28 percentage points
• Youth unemployment: women 15.5% vs men 10%
• Pay gap: women earn 34% less on average
• Women at ACWA Power: under 8% (goal: 20–25%)

It starts at education

The number of girls drops sharply already at the education stage, for reasons often outside the college: parents view engineering as a 'male' profession, or object to a daughter relocating to another city.

We wanted to understand where and why women drop out of the profession, rather than count their numbers.

— Kamola Alieva, researcher (Times of Central Asia)

Barriers on the job

The work itself often means shift schedules and travel to remote energy facilities — extra hurdles for women.

Conditions at industrial sites often make it clear themselves that women are not expected there.

— Kamola Alieva, researcher (Times of Central Asia)

The employer's excuse

Some firms explained their caution about hiring women by citing future maternity-leave costs. But since January 2026, maternity benefits are paid through the state social-insurance fund, not by employers — removing that excuse.

You have to prove not only your professional competence, but also that you belong here.

— Ahmed Fahad, ACWA Power (Times of Central Asia)

The wider context

Attitudes to gender roles remain a major barrier: 77% of the population believe women should work less and spend more time on housework. Women spend more than five hours a day caring for children, the elderly and relatives — over twice as much as men.