Increasing the Ranks of Women in Manufacturing

Increasing the Ranks of Women in Manufacturing

Through education and mentorship, women will be encouraged to pursue careers in today’s increasingly technological and innovative manufacturing industries.

It’s an exciting time to be in U.S. manufacturing as the industry is experiencing incredible growth, supports 17.6 million jobs, is considered the world’s eighth-largest economy, and provides above average salaries. Yet, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) notes that while women represent nearly half of the total U.S. labor force (47 percent),they comprise less than a third (27 percent) of the manufacturing jobs. These low overall numbers translate to low numbers of women in leadership positions within the manufacturing industry. According to 2016 data (as cited by IndustryWeek) from Catalyst, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and business, women working in the U.S. manufacturing durable goods sector represent only 5 percent of CEOs, and 20 percent of executive officers.

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