Women Who Graduate from STEM Programs Are More Than 2X Likely As Men To Pursue A Career In Manufacturing
20 April 2023 - 11:17PM
Women who pursue an education in Science, Technology, Engineering
or Mathematics (‘STEM’) are more than twice as likely as men to
choose a career in manufacturing, according to the third-annual
‘Career Advancement for Manufacturing Report,’ produced in
partnership between Xometry and Women in Manufacturing Association
(WiM). Thirty-eight percent of women intentionally seeking a career
in industry graduated from a STEM program, compared with just 18%
of men, the survey found, underscoring STEM as a critical pathway
to ensuring more representation for women in industry.
The annual survey released today also found that an overwhelming
majority of women (82%) are likely to recommend a career in
manufacturing, up from 75% in 2022, yet actual representation of
women in the manufacturing industry has remained relatively
unchanged. Since 2020, only one in four manufacturing leaders are
women, a persistent sign that more can be done to help advance
women in key leadership roles. Still, the number of women who
believe they have made significant progress in manufacturing has
nearly doubled in the last three years – up from 17% in 2020 to
more than 30% today.
“While we are pleased to see the continued optimism from women
in the manufacturing sector, the fact that actual representation
has remained largely unchanged in all levels of the industry shows
that more needs to be done to ensure inclusion and proper
representation,” said Kathy Mayerhofer, Xometry’s Chief Sales
Officer. “The manufacturing industry of today is more high-tech and
offers more leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities than ever,
and we’d like to bring more women into an industry that is so
pivotal to our global economy.”
“It is so encouraging to see that more than 8 in 10 respondents
to this year’s survey would recommend a career in manufacturing. We
know that careers in this industry deliver powerful opportunities
for individual advancement, fulfillment and prosperity and we are
hopeful that the continued efforts of our members and industry to
highlight modern manufacturing will recruit even more individuals
into it,” said Allison Grealis, president and founder of WiM and
the WiM Education Foundation.
“This report underscores a very clear takeaway: the time for
action is now,” said Cathy Ma, Vice President of Growth Marketing
for Xometry’s Thomasnet. “We can and must take clear steps to
affect actual and long-term change, to reposition manufacturing as
a high-tech industry, to further support the women who are already
working in industry, and to compel younger women to pursue
educational and vocational opportunities in STEM.”
The survey also found the following:
- Manufacturing as a Career – An overwhelming
majority of women (82%) are likely to recommend a career in
manufacturing, up from 75% in 2021.
- STEM Programs for Workforce Development – For
those intentionally seeking careers in the industry, 38% of women
did so because they graduated from a STEM program, compared to just
18% of men. As manufacturing continues to drive innovation,
emerging tech positions such as robotics and automation
specialists, computer programmers, and smart systems integration
technicians are in high demand.
- Women in Leadership by Sector – Agriculture
(28%), electronics (27%), and environmental (27%) are the sectors
leading the charge by having the highest percentage of female
leadership in manufacturing.
- Most Desired Benefits – Health insurance
(79%), flexible work schedule (72%), and 401(k) match (66%) are the
most desired employee benefits.
Feedback from survey respondents reveal the unique ways in which
companies are currently tackling how to bring more women into
manufacturing:
- Education – “Make young women [aged] 15 to 25
aware of options and pay in manufacturing; K-12 educators know
nothing of manufacturing, never talk about it, don't recommend it,
and think it is dirty and dangerous.”
- Inclusivity – “Have a strong percentage of
women at each level of ranking in the hierarchy. You see a strong
showing in lower levels, but less and less as you rise, and even
lower for minority women.”
- Retention & Company Culture – “More onsite
options for women — childcare, nursing/pumping rooms, flexible time
for doctors appointments, fertility coverage, parental leave,
higher 401k match, equal pay.”
METHODOLOGYXometry’s Thomas division, a leader
in product sourcing, supplier selection, and marketing solutions
for industry, partnered for a third year with Women in
Manufacturing Association (WiM) on the annual survey. The study was
conducted online using Qualtrics over a 13-day period from March 1
to March 13, 2023. The research surveyed 1,170 North American
suppliers and industry professionals who work at companies with
revenues spanning from less than $1 million to more than $1
billion. Click here to get a copy of the Career Advancement for
Women in Manufacturing Annual Report.
About Xometry Xometry (NASDAQ: XMTR) powers the
industries of today and tomorrow by connecting the people with big
ideas to the manufacturers who can bring them to life. Xometry’s
digital marketplace gives manufacturers the critical resources they
need to grow their business while also making it easy for buyers at
Fortune 1000 companies to tap into global manufacturing capacity
and create locally resilient supply chains. Learn more at
www.xometry.com or follow @xometry.
About WiMThe Women in Manufacturing®
Association is a more than 17,000-member-strong association
dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have
chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. It encourages the
engagement of women who want to share perspectives, gain
cutting-edge manufacturing information, improve leadership and
communication skills, participate in sponsoring programs and
network with industry peers.
Contacts:Matthew HutchisonVP, Corporate
CommunicationsMatthew.hutchison@xometry.com
Illume PR for XometryXometry@IllumePR.com
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