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.
