By Katy Emmott, Senior Business Manager
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is a powerful reminder of the incredible contributions women make to the ever-evolving field of engineering. Yet, despite their brilliance, recent statistics show a concerning decline in the number of women entering the profession.
Here at Elevation Recruitment Group, we believe fostering a more inclusive recruitment process is a crucial step towards bridging this gap. In this article, we'll delve into simple actionable strategies to attract and empower top female engineering talent. When recruiting via Elevation we'll equip you with the knowledge to create a more welcoming and equitable recruitment experience.
Despite a healthy overall engineering and technology workforce in the UK, with 6.3 million people making up 19.2% of the total employed, there's a concerning trend regarding women in these fields. In Engineering UK’s 2024 Report on Women in Engineering and Technology, they found a decline of 38,000 women in engineering and tech from 2022 to 2023, representing a drop from 16.5% to 15.7% of the workforce. This suggests a retention issue, where experienced female engineers are leaving the field.
Now, let's take a look at some actionable strategies that benefit both hiring managers and candidates, fostering a more welcoming and equitable recruitment experience:
Use gender-neutral language that focuses on skills and experience.
Highlight the company culture and work environment, showcasing aspects that appeal to women, like work-life balance or flexible work arrangements.
Clearly outline career development opportunities to showcase the potential for long-term growth.
Ensure interview panels include women engineers who can provide relatable perspectives and experiences for female candidates.
Train all interviewers on unconscious bias to avoid gender-based assumptions during the evaluation process.
Consider anonymising resumes during the initial screening stage, focusing solely on qualifications and experience.
Utilise skills-based assessments to evaluate abilities objectively.
Showcase successful women engineers on your company website and social media.
Feature their accomplishments and insights to inspire potential female candidates.
Partner with universities and organisations focused on women in STEM fields.
Sponsor events and initiatives promoting diversity in engineering.
Conduct thorough salary benchmarking to ensure you offer competitive packages that attract top talent, regardless of gender.
Consider offering benefits specifically valuable to women in engineering, like robust parental leave policies or childcare support programs.
By implementing these strategies, your recruitment process can become a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top female engineering talent. In turn, you'll be building a more diverse and innovative engineering team, ultimately driving success for your company.
As the largest Engineering & Manufacturing recruitment team in the Yorkshire region, we at Elevation are dedicated to helping local businesses find the best local talent. With experts in all areas of engineering and manufacturing, we are ideally placed to help you build a successful recruitment plan. Call us on 01709 723 248 to discuss your recruitment needs.
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