Manufacturing jobs offer good pay and interesting work, but few women are applying. When you think of women working at factory jobs, do you picture Rosie the Riveter? The image of the woman in a kerchief with a flexed bicep may be out of date, but her message is as true today as it was in the 1940s. Manufacturers need to hire more women—and yes, you CAN do it. As the economy strengthens, manufacturers are adding new jobs all the time. Baby Boomers are starting to retire in greater numbers now and industrial employers have a growing need to hire skilled workers.
Whether you are interested in hands on work, such as machine operator jobs, or professional engineering positions, there are many excellent career opportunities in manufacturing today for women with the right skills and experience. The Friday Services team has helped many women get great jobs in manufacturing right here in Western North Carolina.
Why More Women Should Consider Industrial Careers
Jobs in manufacturing offer higher wages and more opportunities for career growth than many other types of employment. Despite the potential rewards, the numbers show us that too few women are interested in production jobs. To remain competitive in the global marketplace, American manufacturers know they must recruit more female workers.
Today, women make up over half of the national labor pool, but only about 24% of the manufacturing workforce. Local numbers are about the same. Last year 26% of Friday Services manufacturing employees were female.
In 2013 Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute conducted a survey to better understand why so few women seem to be interested in industrial careers today—and to find out what they can do to attract more female applicants. They found that outdated ideas about factory work are a big part of the problem. Rosie the Riveter was created to encourage women to get jobs in manufacturing—could it be that today she discourages them? During World War II many women took jobs building planes, weaponry, and other types heavy equipment to fill in for the men who were fighting overseas. Photographs from that era, of real life Rosies doing heavy labor in dirty environments, are some of the only images of women doing factory work we see. Manufacturing has come a long way since the 1940’s. Today’s production facilities are more likely to be high tech environments. Many of today’s factory jobs require knowledge of mathematics and computers. In 2015, instead of working as a riveter, Rosie would be more likely to have a CNC Machine Operator job. Don’t let the old stereotypes of yesterday keep you away from a well paid, fulfilling job today.
What Real Women in Manufacturing Think About Their Jobs
When Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute interviewed women in manufacturing they asked them what they liked best about their careers. Over 75% of the women who responded said that they found their jobs “interesting and rewarding.” Women also cited a high pay rate as a reason to begin a manufacturing career, as well as the challenging nature of the work. Groups like Women in Manufacturing have sprung up all over the U.S. to combat out of date notions about the manufacturing industry, and to get out the message that there are amazing career opportunities for women available right now.
Interested? Learn How to Start a Manufacturing Career
If you are looking for a new career and have been unsure about whether or not a job in manufacturing is right for you, the Friday Services team will be happy to help. A good place to start is to read our previous blog 4 Community College Programs that Can Help You Get Good Jobs Now to find out about local schools that can teach you the skills you’ll need to start a career in manufacturing.
You can also get a sense for what it is like to work in a manufacturing environment by working in an entry-level position. Many entry-level factory jobs do not require a college degree, and you can gain valuable work experience while you explore possible career paths in industry. Our employment agency fulfills the staffing needs of many local industrial employers. We may be able to place you in job opportunities offered by manufacturers in Asheville, Fletcher, Hendersonville and other cities right here in Western North Carolina. If you are ready to start right away, submit an online application. One of our experienced Staffing Generalists will then call you to discuss the type of job that would be right for your interests, skills, and experience.
