Women in Industry
The manufacturing and automotive industries are male-dominated industries. In manufacturing: 72% of employees are male. This is significantly different from the picture for all industries, where the figure is closer to 50:50. The exception is the ‘Textiles, clothing and footwear’ sector which is female–dominated: women make up 61% of the workforce.
New South Wales had the highest percentage of women employed in the sectors covered by MSA, with Western Australia having only a slightly lower percentage.
The predicted skills shortages that are expected to be felt in manufacturing as the Australian economy recovers and the resources sector returns to full production opens the way to new initiatives to recruit, train and retain women to overcome such shortages.
Promoting careers within the manufacturing and automotive industries as “Careers of Choice” is one such workforce development initiative.
Women in non-traditional tradesA ‘non-traditional’ trade can be defined as a trade where representation of women is less than 10% of the workers. In the manufacturing and automotive industries, the trades referred to include:
- Fitting and machining
- Boiler making
- Blacksmithing
- Engineering
- Mechanical trades
- Electrical/electronic trades
- Fabrication trades
- Aeroskills trades (including avionics and mechanical trade)
- Wood turning
- Cabinet making
- Automotive mechanical technology
- Automotive electrical technology
 |
Articles and links to useful websites
Information and research, including links to funding initiatives
A showcase on women and enterprises leading the way |
Do you have a story to share or are you aware of an initiative or program within your state or area? Contact MSA on 02 9955 5500 or
email Jane Newton