Plant: Focus: Women in manufacturing

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Women represent one of the largest pools of untapped talent for manufacturers, and closing the manufacturing’s gender gap is the key to closing the skills gap that has limited businesses’ ability to evolve and expand. Not to mention that research shows that gender diversity benefits manufacturing firms by creating a culture that improves their ability to innovate and grow.

In this survey, the number of female respondents is significantly lower than males; 16 per cent vs 84 per cent male.

According to the survey results, 95 per cent of female respondents stated they are working for a full-time manufacturing organization. Two per cent stated they are 25 years of age or under; nine per cent stated they are 26 to 36; 20 per cent stated they are 36 to 45; 35 per cent are 46 to 55; and 30 per cent are 55 to 65.

Women in manufacturing overall are younger than men with 31 per cent under 45 years old. This compares to 18 per cent of men; 66 per cent of women versus 44 per cent of men are under 55.

Read more on Plant Magazine, one of Canadian Manufacturing’s partner publications.