An overwhelming majority (79%) of women say they are satisfied with the progress they’ve made in the manufacturing industry over the last five years, up significantly from 62% in 2020, according to the fourth-annual ‘Career Advancement for Manufacturing Report,’ produced in partnership between Xometry and Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM). The survey also revealed that women are more likely than their male counterparts to recommend a career in manufacturing (80% to 74%).
More than two-thirds of women (71%) said they did not intentionally choose manufacturing as their field of choice, but once in, recognize how their contributions are propelling industry forward. The overwhelming majority of women (90%) and men (67%) believe that diversity improves business outcomes.
“The results of this year’s survey confirm what many of us have felt for a long time: that women can find fulfillment and achieve success in manufacturing,” says Kathy Mayerhofer, Xometry’s chief sales officer. “Yet we have to do more to reach women at increasingly younger ages, compel them to pursue STEM educations, and market the incredible entrepreneurial opportunities that exist within manufacturing. For women in manufacturing, the sky's the limit.”
“We firmly believe in the transformative power of women to drive the manufacturing industry forward,” says Allison Grealis, president and founder of WiM. “This survey continues to validate the notion that women play a pivotal role in the industry, and it is imperative to redouble our efforts in attracting and engaging more women in manufacturing to foster enduring change and fortify the industry's resilience.”
Key Takeaways:
- Eighty-three percent of companies continue to experience significant labor shortages, with industrial mechanics, maintenance technicians and engineers among the hardest roles to fill.
- Most women report entering manufacturing through job postings, co-op programs, and recruitment, whereas most men join the industry through family businesses, apprenticeships or internships, and STEM programs.
- The Medical/Healthcare (25%), Environmental (24%) and Telecommunications (24%) sectors have the highest percentage of female leadership in manufacturing.
- Telecommunications (35%), Transportation (32%) and Environmental (32%) industrial companies have the highest percentages of female employees.
