‘One of the boys?’: The work and career experiences of Australian women working in automotive trades occupations

Abstract

This report forms part of a larger study of women working in three highly male-dominated sectors and occupations: investment management, automotive trades, and pilots. In Australia, women comprise 10-14 per cent of employees in investment management occupations, 2.5 per cent of automotive tradespeople, and 6 per cent of commercial pilots. In this report we profile the work and career experiences of women in automotive trades occupations and automotive industry occupations, using data collected between July and September 2018. We analysed data drawn from three sources: 12 face-to-face and telephone interviews with industry stakeholders; an online survey of 119 female employees in automotive trades occupations; and 20 telephone interviews with female apprentices or qualified automotive tradeswomen.