In Honor of Manufacturing Day Let's Vow to Get More Women in the Field

Oct. 1, 2014

A new survey found that 74% of women working in manufacturing believe that the sector offers multiple career paths for women and that more than half of women in manufacturing today think that the sector is a leading industry for job growth for women.

Adrienne Selko

More than 80% of women in manufacturing today say that their work is interesting and challenging and half of women in manufacturing say that compensation is the most significant benefit of the sector. This is according to a new survey released on Oct. 1 by Women in Manufacturing, (WiM).

Why are these two factors important?

Well according to the survey what young women are looking for when determining a career is compensation followed closely by work that is interesting and challenging.

Looks like there is a match here.

For women already in the sector, the news is good. The survey found that 74% of women working in manufacturing believe that the sector offers multiple career paths for women and that more than half of women in manufacturing today think that the sector is a leading industry for job growth for women.

But wait there is more good news; 64% of women working in manufacturing reported that they would recommend a career in manufacturing to a young woman.

Before we get too carried away those percentages are based on women already in the field. To the general population of potential workers less than half of young women believe that manufacturing offers the interesting and challenging work they’re seeking and less than 10% of young women placed manufacturing among the top five career fields that they feel offer the most opportunity for young women today.

What should be done?

If International’s Paper CEO get his way his company’s payroll have 51% women “It’s a war for talent,” John Faraci said in a recent interview. “If we can only compete for half the people that are on the planet, how are we going to get the best? You want to compete for everybody.”

That’s a start.

Check out IndustryWeek's complete coverage of Manufacturing Day 2014.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.