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While women comprise nearly 50% of the American workforce, they only account for about one-third of employees in the manufacturing industry. As manufacturers continue to combat labor shortages, women are entering the sector in greater numbers and are taking leadership positions.
To discuss women’s vital role in manufacturing, we chatted with Meaghan Ziemba, host of Mavens of Manufacturing. Ziemba is a brand storyteller, technical writer, and marketer for industrial manufacturers. She created the live video series Mavens of Manufacturing to celebrate women in manufacturing — from the shop floor to the c-suite — and to encourage younger generations to join the manufacturing sector.
Meaghan Ziemba, Host of Mavens of Manufacturing
David Mantey (DM): What is the current state of women in manufacturing?
Meaghan Ziemba (MZ): According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, women represent 30% of the manufacturing workforce. One out of four women holds a management position, and women in manufacturing earn about 16% more than the national median annual income for all women employed in the United States.
DM: How have companies made inroads to hire a more diverse workforce with females in leadership roles?
MZ: I’ve observed a few things that companies are doing to help attract and recruit more women in leadership roles. For example, job descriptions are being changed to have more inclusive language that doesn’t deter women from applying. Companies are also looking at a candidate’s potential rather than experience to help diversify the workforce. A few other examples are:
Evaluation and promotion procedures are becoming more transparent, so women have equal promotion opportunities.
Work-life balance has seen a significant shift. More companies are offering flexible schedules (remote work or hybrid opportunities), better access to childcare, and full pay during maternity leave. Women tend to leave companies that are not fostering inclusion or are committed to employee well-being.
Representation matters, so companies are more intentional with their marketing strategies to highlight female leaders, including on corporate websites, marketing materials, articles, and social channels. Women are also selected to be more involved in speaking events and public appearances.
New mentorship programs have helped bridge the gap between the older and younger generations and helped inspire the next generation of women to pursue leadership opportunities within organizations.
Training and continuous improvement programs are being improved to help women sharpen their leadership skills.
Finally, some companies are joining organizations focusing on women in the workplace, like Women in Manufacturing (WiM), the Society of Women Engineers, Women in 3D Printing, and Women of Today’s Manufacturing (WOTM).
DM: How do you feel about current efforts to encourage more women to enter the manufacturing sector?
MZ: I am definitely encouraged, but we still have a ways to go.
I am hearing more conversations about how to get more women involved in traditionally male-dominated sectors, like manufacturing and engineering. I also love seeing the number of men who share the same mission as myself. Their support is essential to attracting and recruiting more women to the trades.
DM: When it comes to job satisfaction, what are women looking for in manufacturing roles?
MZ: Honestly, it depends on who you ask. Not all women have the same goals or aspirations. I speak with women who are single mothers and want more flex time so they can pick up their children and drop them off at school or daycare. I’ve talked to women who prefer working from home because they can be more productive and don’t have to deal with the stress of a daily commute.
A common theme I’ve noticed from all women is an equal opportunity to be recognized for their skill sets and contributions. Of course, everyone wants to get paid for their services, but I think women are more open to negotiating certain benefits that align with their core values.
DM: What is the future of women in manufacturing?
MZ: The future looks bright. Because of the current skills gap, women have a ton of opportunities available to them within engineering and manufacturing.
However, as an industry, we need to be more proactive in making women aware of these opportunities and inspiring them to pursue them. The industry also needs to better educate the public about what a career in manufacturing looks like today because there is still a misconception that manufacturing is this dark, dirty, dull, and dangerous place that doesn’t offer many growth opportunities, which simply isn’t true.
Manufacturing is a place for creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration — and you don’t have to be a genius at math or science to excel.
Image Credit: nullplus / Shutterstock.com
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