Nearly 75% Of Women in Manufacturing Recommend A Career In The Industry, A New Study From Xometry & Women in Manufacturing Finds

Rhea-AI Summary

Xometry, a leader in product sourcing and marketing solutions, in collaboration with the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), has released the findings of its ‘Career Advancement for Manufacturing Annual Report’ based on survey responses from 663 industry professionals. The report highlights key insights into gender representation in manufacturing and emphasizes the positive outlook for women in the sector. Notably, 75% of women in manufacturing are likely to recommend careers in the field, and 48% participated in STEM programs as a pathway to their careers.

Positive

• 75% of women in manufacturing likely to recommend careers in the sector.
• 48% of women in industrial careers participated in STEM programs.
• Increased interest in manufacturing among women indicates a positive trend.

Negative

• Only 20% of manufacturing companies offer leadership training.
• Only 13% offer mentorship programs.

Xometry and the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) to Present Findings in Special “Xometry Live” Event on March 10

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xometry’s Thomas division, a leader in product sourcing, supplier selection, and marketing solutions for industry, today released the results of its ‘Career Advancement for Manufacturing Annual Report,’ an annual research study conducted in partnership with the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM).

Based on responses from 663 industry professionals, the second-annual report unveils key insights into representation across industry; shares state- and sector-specific data, and highlights strategies for closing the gender gap in an effort to further diversify the manufacturing sector. Xometry and Women in Manufacturing will present the findings in a special “Xometry Live” event March 10 (register here).

While men are more likely to actively seek out a career in manufacturing compared to their female counterparts (47%-30%), 75% of women in the industry are likely or very likely to recommend a career in manufacturing, the survey finds. STEM programs are the most effective pathway for women to enter the manufacturing industry, with 48% of women working in industrial careers identifying as having participated in one.

"Manufacturing is the foundation upon which tomorrow's products are built, and by embracing diversity and inclusion, we can create more entrepreneurial and professional opportunities for everyone to actively participate and thrive in the global economy," said Cathy Ma, Vice President of Platform Growth and Engagement at Thomas, a Xometry company. "This comprehensive study shows that an increased interest in manufacturing among women is very encouraging for the future of our industry."

“WiM is pleased to release the second annual report through our ongoing partnership with Thomas,” said Allison Grealis, president and founder of WiM and the WiM Education Foundation. "As the only national association dedicated to year-round support for women in the manufacturing sector, this report is an important part of our efforts to jumpstart conversations about gender representation in manufacturing and empower women to embrace the fulfilling, lucrative careers we know this industry can provide. We hope our data equips businesses with the knowledge necessary to provide a more inclusive workplace for all and are thrilled to see that companies are working to adopt practices to help advance this goal.”

"I can say with confidence that women and people from diverse backgrounds are shaping the future of our industry for the better," said Kathy Mayerhofer, Chief Sales Officer at Xometry. "It's essential for leaders — and everyone in the industry — to continue fueling this early momentum by investing in management training, mentorship, and STEM programs to inspire the next generation of great leaders." 

Additional findings include:

• Representation by Sector: The fields with the highest presence of women are Telecommunications (39%), Medical/Healthcare (38%), and Logistics/Shipping (38%).
  
  
• Geographic Representation: Alabama (40%) and Virginia (40%) have the highest presence of women in the manufacturing sector. Relatedly, Connecticut has the highest number of women leaders in industry (31%).
  
  
• Career Advancement Solutions: Women who responded say that leadership/management training (44%) and mentorships (35%) have had the most significant impact on their career advancement. However, only 20% of manufacturing companies report that they offer leadership training and only 13% offer mentorship programs.
  

Additional feedback from survey respondents reveals the unique ways in which companies are currently promoting industry advancement and diversity:

• “We have an initiative to increase our female population to 30% by 2030 and we also have sponsorship programs and mentor programs for females.” — Indiana-based general manufacturing professional
• “Our CHRO is very focused on increasing diversity within our teams. It is discussed at the C-suite level and is very much a part of day-to-day conversations, particularly as we recruit outside talent.” — Ohio-based multi-sector manufacturing professional
• “[We focus on] encouraging diverse panel interviews when recruiting.” — Connecticut-based multi-sector manufacturing professional
  

To learn more about Xometry and download the report, visit https://business.thomasnet.com/career-advancement-report-2021-ualp.

METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted online using Qualtrics. The survey examined 663 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 the big ideas to the manufacturers who can bring them to life. Xometry’s digital marketplace makes it easy for buyers at Fortune 1000 companies to tap into global manufacturing capacity while giving suppliers the critical resources they need to grow their business. Xometry is home to Thomas, a leader in product sourcing, supplier selection and marketing solutions for industry, and the popular Thomasnet.com platform.

About WiM
Women in Manufacturing® (WiM) is the only national trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. At present, more than 11,000 individual members representing more than 2,000 manufacturing companies have joined our growing ranks of industry professionals. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function – from production to the C-Suite. Membership is available to women and men working within the manufacturing sector. For more information about WiM, www.womeninmanufacturing.org.

Media Contacts
Matthew Hutchison
Matthew.Hutchison@xometry.com 

Nicole Isenberg
nisenberg@womeninmfg.org 

 

FAQ

What are the key findings of the Xometry report on women in manufacturing?

The report reveals that 75% of women in manufacturing are likely to recommend careers in the sector, and highlights the importance of STEM programs.

When is the Xometry Live event presenting the report findings?

The Xometry Live event is scheduled for March 10, 2022.

What percentage of women in manufacturing have participated in STEM programs according to the report?

According to the report, 48% of women in industrial careers have participated in STEM programs.

How many industry professionals participated in the Xometry survey?

The survey included responses from 663 industry professionals.

What is the stock symbol for Xometry?

Xometry's stock symbol is XMTR.