DES MOINES, Iowa – The Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI) and the American Petroleum Industry (API) are highlighting the need for more women in the petroleum industry. Recently during a meeting with female business leaders, Dawn Carlson, PMCI president and CEO, and Reo Menning, PMCI executive vice president, discussed the issue with Tara Anderson, API director of external mobilization.

“We were discussing the strong need to recruit and retain women within the petroleum industry,” Carlson said in a press release. “At PMCI, we’re fortunate 50% of our staff are female. But that’s an anomaly when you take into consideration that 81% of the workforce in our industry was male in 2010.”

Fortunately, the attitudes and perceptions of women considering employment in the oil and natural gas industry are changing. According to a recent API study, even before hearing any specific information about the industry—positive or negative—a majority of women (53%) are willing to work in the industry.

Yet the overwhelming majority of respondents admit never applying for employment in the industry, with only 3% having applied for an industry-related job. The No. 1 obstacle is lack of awareness and understanding about job opportunities and career development. In addition, 19% did not think they had the right background, and the same amount believed the jobs in the industry were outside their field.

“Our success at PMCI can be attributed to actively involving our female members. Specifically, our members have partnered with Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds on her ‘Stories of Women’s Lives Tour.’ In addition, PMCI has encouraged female college students to become part of our full-time internship program,” Carlson said.