While the employment rate for women (32.7%) still trails that of men (76.8%), India has seen progress toward lowering gender inequality in many industries. One sector, however, is lagging: manufacturing.
Let’s admit it. In the realm of manufacturing, a gender gap persists, particularly in India where female representation in the sector remains significantly lower than that of their male counterparts. To solve this problem, if I may call it so, one has to first understand the complex issues influenced by a combination of societal, cultural and structural factors. Traditional gender roles, biases, and stereotypes have perpetuated the notion that manufacturing is a male-dominated industry, leading to limited opportunities for women to enter and progress within the sector. To add to this, there are inherent biases in recruitment processes, lack of supportive policies and inadequate access to education and training.
The disparity has been evident for years, but now more than ever, it is being openly discussed in companies and boardrooms. This is especially true as diversity and the need to leverage all talent sources become increasingly urgent for the sector. Where does this significant gap originate? Why does it endure? And what steps can companies take to address this imbalance?
Women constitute nearly 50% of the world’s population. This represents a vast talent pool that could be utilised in the manufacturing sector, a sector that plays a crucial role in a country’s economic growth and development. Women have demonstrated through example their capability to lead from the front. Here are some examples that challenge the notion of gender disparity. Their stories are an inspiration to all of us, and they show that women can achieve anything they set their minds to.
- Lisa Su: President and CEO of AMD, a leading semiconductor company. Su is the first woman to lead a major semiconductor company.
- Mary Barra: CEO of General Motors, the largest automaker in the United States. Barra is the first woman to lead a major automaker.
- Stephanie C. Hill is president of the Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business area within Lockheed Martin Corporation – a global leader in aerospace and defense technology.
- Dr. Ellen Ochoa: Former astronaut and director of the Johnson Space Centre. Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go into space.
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Founder and Chairperson of Biocon, a leading Indian biotechnology company.
- Vinita Bali: Former Managing Director of Britannia Industries, one of the largest food companies in India.
- Anu Aga: Former Chairperson of Thermax, a leading Indian energy and environment solutions company.
- Vinita Singhania: Vice Chairperson and Managing Director, JK Lakshmi Cement
- Katarzyna Kalisz is Director of Polish operations for JPB Système, a leading manufacturer of efficiency-enhancing technology solutions for aerospace, aeronautic and other industries.
- Archana Bhatnagar, Director- Project & Market Development South Asia, Wartsila. She has had an influential role as a woman leader in driving India’s clean energy transformation.
Efforts to bridge the gender gap in manufacturing are gaining momentum as organisations, policymakers and individuals recognise the benefit of gender diversity. Initiatives aimed at empowering women in manufacturing encompass a wide range of strategies, including promoting STEM education for girls, providing vocational training and skill development programs, fostering supportive work environments, implementing D&I policies and encouraging mentorship and leadership opportunities for women.
Addressing the gender gap requires a multifaceted approach which involves collaboration between government bodies, industry stakeholders, academia and civil society. It is time to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and empower women to participate fully in the manufacturing sector, driving innovation, economic growth, and social progress. Together, we can build a future where gender equality thrives in every facet of the manufacturing industry.
Will automation level the playing field for women in manufacturing and tech?
With the rapid advancement of automation and AI, companies are faced with the imperative to reskill their workforce. This transformative wave is reshaping industries such as automotive and supply chain logistics, revolutionising processes from manufacturing to recruitment. While concerns about job displacement abound, the prevailing narrative underscores the potential for new opportunities, particularly for those equipped with updated skill sets. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), while technology is expected to displace 75 million jobs globally by 2025, it will also create 133 million new ones, many of which will integrate technological advancements.
Women, in particular, stand to benefit from this paradigm shift. As the demand for skilled workers is projected to exceed supply by 85 million by 2030, opportunities emerge for women to bridge the gender gap in tech and manufacturing sectors traditionally dominated by men. However, women’s representation in STEM education and AI development remains disproportionately low. Recent WEF research based on LinkedIn data revealed that only 22% of AI professionals worldwide are women.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) highlights the resilience of jobs dominated by men in engineering and IT, and those dominated by women in nursing and teaching against automation. This underscores the importance of fostering women’s participation in STEM fields, recognising the increasing value of roles requiring social and emotional skills. While automation may reshape certain jobs, McKinsey Global Institute predicts that by 2030, nearly 10% of jobs will be new, technical occupations, necessitating a 60% increase in the use of technological skills among workers.
Manufacturing, often misconstrued as a declining industry, presents a burgeoning landscape of opportunity. Studies by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute forecast a shortage of 2.4 million skilled positions by 2028, emphasising the pressing need to cultivate and empower a diverse workforce to thrive in this evolving landscape.
In the years that I have covered the sector, I have been fortunate to interact with women who have broken barriers, transformed the landscape not just for herself, but for other aspiring women too. And keep in mind, this extends beyond leadership to include roles at the plant and labour levels as well. While we speak about women who have triumphed in various manufacturing domains, we must also give due credit to men who have supported this cause.
In the following pages of this cover feature, we have curated interactions with individuals who embody the essence of diversity and inclusion, moving beyond mere buzzwords. For some, it has been a journey; for others, it serves as a beacon, inspiring aspiring women to join the field. And for a select few, fostering gender equality has become both a duty and a testament to their vision.
