Can women in manufacturing help close the skills gap?

Recently there has been a lot of talk about the skills shortage in Australia and how it is affecting different industries and the Australian economy as a whole.

More specifically, the manufacturing industry has been struggling to find enough workers with the right skills to meet growing demand, as well as keeping pace with the latest advances in technology.

Readers may know that this is an area that I am particularly passionate about as I firmly believe one of the ways to address the skills shortage issue is to help inspire more women to enter the manufacturing industry. But is it really possible? And, if so, how do we change the current industry perception?

The great Australian skills shortage

There's no denying that there is a skills shortage in Australia, especially when it comes to the manufacturing community.

This skills shortage has been caused by a number of factors including an ageing workforce, a decline in vocational training, and misconceptions of the industry. A combination of factors have led to a decrease in the number of people entering the workforce with the necessary skills to meet demand. In fact, many anticipate that by 2025 there will be a shortfall of 280,000 skilled workers in Australia.

The manufacturing industry contributes over $100billion to the Australian economy every year so it is crucial that we tackle this problem head-on. However, in order to obtain more skilled workers, we are increasingly having to compete on a global scale alongside other advanced nations such as the United States who are also experiencing their own skills shortage.

The shortage in Australia of skilled manufacturing workers could have serious economic impacts on not only the ability to produce and supply Australian-made products to the world, but also within the industry and manufacturing community itself.

So how do we overcome this?

One of the most obvious answers I see is to encourage more young women to explore the enormous career potential in the manufacturing sector.

With so much change happening globally due to advances in technology and the ways in which we all live and work, manufacturing is one of the most important industries in the world today.

It is responsible for producing the goods that we use every day, and it plays a vital role in economies the world over. But describing these global changes and the evolution of manufacturing isn’t without its challenges.

The Queensland Government, in their Women In Manufacturing Strategy whitepaper, rightly suggested that attracting and engaging women into the manufacturing industry also relies on changing the outdated perception of the dangerous, dirty environment that most people think of when they think of manufacturing.

In stark contrast, today's modern industry is more innovative, technologically advanced, and more sophisticated than ever before, which in turn is inviting greater numbers of women to the manufacturing workforce.

Raising awareness at school

As the Executive Board Member of the Queensland Manufacturing Institute, I have been immensely proud to help in delivering the school-based Women Who Weld Program which is aimed at increasing gender diversity and participation in manufacturing careers.

The program provides the opportunity for female high school students in years 10, 11 and 12 to gain insight into trade skills and career pathways, including local employment opportunities.

It is assisted by corporate partners who kindly offer the finance to cover the cost of resources and education materials for students, ensuring that young women have the skills they need to succeed now and well into the future. This is just one way that industry can get behind and support efforts towards gender parity.

Diversifying support and roles

In the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2022-27, the government is committing to identifying and supporting talented women and girls to pursue careers in typically male dominated industries like manufacturing.

The percentage of women currently working in Queensland's manufacturing industry varies significantly based on their occupations. Overall, approximately 27% of Queensland’s manufacturing employees are women, with the most common roles being that of clerical and administrative, as well as community and personal service workers. This needs to be diversified, especially given the steep rise in interest in STEAM among young women.

Queensland Manufacturing Employment by Occupation and Gender

Source: QLD Government, Women in Manufacturing Strategy Consultation Paper, August 2022

Women's representation in manufacturing in Queensland is broadly similar to the national picture, except that there is a slightly higher percentage of women employed in professional and sales roles.

Generally speaking however, Queensland has an equal number of female technicians, tradesmen, managers, machinery operators, and drivers as compared to the national average.

Benefits of a gender-diverse workforce

While gender inequality has greatly improved in the past century, inequality still exists in Queensland's manufacturing industry, where men are three times more likely to hold managerial positions than women. However, the tide is slowly turning as more businesses recognise the value of gender diversity in the workplace.

Percentage of Women in Occupation by State and Nation, Manufacturing Industry

Recent McKinsey research indicates that businesses with diverse workforces experience superior financial returns.

In fact, diversity-embracing businesses are believed to be 1.7 times more innovative, as diverse backgrounds and life experiences boost creativity when people from different backgrounds and with different life experiences join together. More diversity also increases the likelihood that businesses will capture more markets by up to 70%.

While there are many Australian manufacturers who are pushing the boundaries of gender equality and supporting the development of women's careers, they cannot do it alone.

We need a joint effort from the entire industry, government, and the broader community to strengthen the pipeline of talent through education and training. Only then can we continue to improve gender equality at work and attract and retain women in manufacturing.

Building the skills to build the future

I believe that it is through the development of skills and capabilities that economic and social prosperity is bolstered.

The inability to access the right skills at the right time can be detrimental to both the development of the industry as well as the communities surrounding the industry. It is imperative that the female representation in Australia's manufacturing industry improves and career opportunities are made clear to students from an early age.

Manufacturing supports a wide range of macro and micro economies, and as an industry, we should all be focusing on the education gap that is perpetuating the skills shortage.

Looking ahead, the transition to Industry 4.0 requires a well-rounded approach with skills that are becoming increasingly important, such as problem solving and mathematical (STEAM) abilities.

If we can create a more streamlined system for young females to enter the manufacturing workplace, and leverage existing expertise, we can then start to build a future workforce that is both skilled and well-equipped to protect the future Australian economy.

The skills shortage is a major and complex issue facing Australia today and requires a multi-faceted approach that includes streamlined educational pathways and joint government and industry assistance.

By encouraging more women to enter the manufacturing profession with clear career opportunities, I strongly believe that we can help close the skills gap and ensure that businesses have access to the skilled workers they need to compete on the future global stage.