The automotive industry is rapidly changing, and women may be the driving force necessary for success.
by Katie Moore
As 2024 comes to a close and we gear up for the excitement and possibilities of a new year, it’s a good time for all of us to look back and prepare for what lies ahead in Canada’s automotive industry. So much more than just about cars, the automotive industry symbolizes opportunities and innovation, and plays an important role in connecting people all across Canada.
With the continued growth and advancements in the industry, there is much to look forward to in 2025, and a key driver of its ongoing progress is a historically underrepresented demographic: women. Although women face unique challenges in the automotive industry, there are also great opportunities for leading progress in such a growing field, and there are women already in the driver’s seat that are working hard towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Statistics Canada data from 2020 states that women remain a highly underrepresented group in the industry at just 25% of all motor vehicle parts manufacturers and 23% of motor vehicle manufacturers, despite representing 48% of the workforce across all industries. The imbalance is even more clear within positions of leadership, making up just 10% of supervisors within motor vehicle assembling in 2019.
There are several explanations for this gender disparity, including what CEO of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement (CADIA), Cheryl Thompson, calls “benevolent sexism”. This could also be called “friendly” or “well-meaning” sexism, whereby men in leadership positions refuse women opportunities with the implicit bias of viewing women as requiring protection. This “protection” however, belittles and disrespects professional women in the process.
In Thompson’s words, “I just felt like I was being coddled sometimes… I didn’t want people to think I wasn’t as committed because I was a mom and had a kid to care for.” She continues by stating that women are taught to keep their personal lives a secret: “Don’t let them know you have kids, don’t have pictures of your kids on your desk, don’t talk about your after-school activities with [coworkers],” as doing so is considered a “career derailer”.
While many of these challenges carry on, there is an ongoing industry-wide shift towards gender equality and inclusion, largely driven by companies’ initiatives, mentorship programs, and women automotive workers that are already leading the path for more to follow. And with the industry racing to work towards vehicle electrification in the face of an increasingly prevalent climate crisis, diversifying by shrinking the gender gap may be exactly the fresh breath of air that the industry needs to succeed.
Organizations like CADIA are leaders in this systematic shift. Founded by Thompson in 2017, CADIA offers mentorship and professional development for women to advance in their automotive careers, including into leadership positions, by helping “create systemic, organizational change at the company level.”
Amanda Sayers, Director of Skills, Talent and Workforce Development at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) is another example of a leader in this effort. The company expects that “there are many exciting years to come for the industry and with that will come many opportunities for women.” Sayers and her all-female team work to appeal to, train, and launch the careers of women in fields like automotives where they are underrepresented.
For women considering a career in the automotive industry, right now is a great time to start. Diverse teams in the automotive industry would benefit not only women, but also the industry itself, and companies are beginning to realize this.
According to the key findings from Deloitte’s 2020 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Automotive study, companies that make greater efforts into diversifying their leadership teams may see “tangible benefits, including more holistic decision-making and improved financial performance.”
Research conducted by McKinsey & Company of 366 public companies globally found that those in the top percentile for gender diversity are 15% more likely to have financial returns that are above the median for all national companies in their given industry. As they explain, more diverse companies “are better able to win top talent and improve their customer orientation, employee satisfaction, and decision making, and all that leads to a virtuous cycle of increasing returns.”
The future of Canada’s automotive industry holds a lot of promise for women that are ready to take the wheel. By breaking down barriers and improving diversity, the industry not only empowers women but also strengthens itself. As we drive towards 2025 and beyond, inclusivity through mentorship, education, and training will ensure a prosperous and innovative industry.