Women in Male-Dominated Industries and Occupations in U.S. and Canada
Women make up 25% or less of all those employed in male-dominated industries and occupations.1 While women have made headway into certain industries and occupations, there is still a great gap between women and men in many industries and occupations.
Sex segregation persists in the labor force despite shifts over recent years that have desegregated certain occupations from being dominated by one gender. Women continue to be highly overrepresented in clerical, service, and health occupations, while men tend to be over overrepresented in craft, operator, and laborer jobs.2
Male-dominated industries provide particular challenges for women’s advancement. Catalyst research has found that talent management systems are frequently vulnerable to pro-male biases that inevitably result in less diverse employee pools. Because senior leadership teams, which tend to be dominated by men, set the tone for talent management norms, masculine stereotypes can creep into HR tools. Employees who meet criteria (potentially based on masculine stereotypes) are selected for promotion and/or tapped as future leaders and/or offered development opportunities. Because male-dominated industries and occupations tend to be particularly vulnerable to masculine stereotypes due to lack of diversity, women may find excelling in these industries or occupations to be particularly difficult.3
Some examples of male dominated industries include:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing4
- Construction5
- Mining6
- Oil and gas7
- Utilities8
|
Male-Dominated Industries in Canada and the U.S. |
||
|
Industry |
Women’s Share in Canada, 20069 |
Women’s Share in U.S., 201110 |
|
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting |
29.6% |
24.5% |
|
Construction |
12.2% |
8.9% |
|
Mining (including oil and gas extraction) |
18.3% |
13.8% |
|
Mining (excluding oil and gas extraction) |
13.1% |
N/A |
|
Oil and gas extraction |
27.2% |
18.0% |
|
Utilities |
24.7% |
21.7% |
*Note: Canada defines their mining industry as Mining & Oil & Gas Extraction, not simply Mining.
Women in Management in Male-Dominated Industries
Percent of Financial Post 500 Women Senior Officers11
Percent of Fortune 500 Women Executive Officers12
Women’s Share of Board Seats in Canada and the U.S.13
Occupations Dominated by One Gender
The following occupations are the most male-dominated occupations in Canada with 5,000 people or more. Less than 2% of the employees in all of these occupations are women.
|
Ten Most Male-Dominated Occupations in Canada 14 |
||
|
Occupation |
Total Number of People in Occupation |
Share of Women Employees |
|
Bricklayers |
18,885 |
1.1% |
|
Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics |
39,140 |
1.1% |
|
Concrete Finishers |
11,440 |
1.2% |
|
Other Small Engine and Equipment Mechanics |
6,815 |
1.2% |
|
Gas Fitters |
5,650 |
1.4% |
|
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics |
22,240 |
1.4% |
|
Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics (Except Textile) |
75,900 |
1.5% |
|
Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System) |
72,390 |
1.6% |
|
Industrial Electricians |
29,960 |
1.7% |
|
Steamfitters, Pipefitters, and Sprinkle System Installers |
22,190 |
1.7% |
The following occupations with 50,000 people or more are the most male-dominated occupations in the U.S. Less than 2% of the employees in all of these occupations are women.
|
Ten Most Male-Dominated Occupations in the U.S. 15 |
||
|
Occupation |
Total Number of People in Occupation |
Share of Women Employees |
|
Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons |
151,000 |
.1% |
|
Roofers |
216,000 |
.5% |
|
Small Engine Mechanics |
58,000 |
.5% |
|
Cement Masons, Concrete Finishers, and Terrazzo Workers |
74,000 |
.6% |
|
Logging workers |
59,000 |
.7% |
|
Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers |
376,000 |
.7% |
|
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists |
330,000 |
.8% |
|
Tool and die makers |
54,000 |
.9% |
|
Structural Iron and Steel Workers |
77,000 |
.9% |
|
Crane and Tower Operators |
61,000 |
1.1% |
Female-Dominated Occupations
The following occupations with 5,000 people or more are heavily dominated by women; women make up the vast majority in each occupation.
|
Ten Most Prevalent Occupations for Employed Women in Canada 200616 |
||
|
Occupation |
Total Number of People in Occupation |
Women’s Share of Occupation |
|
Secretaries |
308,565 |
97.9% |
|
Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists |
17,460 |
97.2% |
|
Early Childhood Educators and Assistants |
170,340 |
96.4% |
|
Court Recorders and Medical Transcriptionists |
7,760 |
96.1% |
|
Dietitians and Nutritionists |
8,750 |
94.8% |
|
Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists |
7,375 |
94.1% |
|
Babysitters, Nannies, and Parents’ Helpers |
69,785 |
94.0% |
|
Receptionists and Switchboard Operators |
146,320 |
93.8% |
|
Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses |
279,725 |
93.7% |
|
Estheticians, Electrologists, and Related Occupations |
37,590 |
93.6% |
Women make up the majority of employees in the following occupations in the U.S
|
Ten Most Prevalent Occupations for Employed Women in the U.S., 201017 |
||
|
Occupation |
Total Number of People in Occupation |
Women’s Share of Occupation |
|
Secretaries and administrative assistants |
3,082,000 |
96.1% |
|
Childcare Workers |
1,247,000 |
94.7% |
|
Receptionists and Information Clerks |
1,281,000 |
92.7% |
|
Teacher Assistants |
966,000 |
92.4% |
|
Registered Nurses |
2,843,000 |
91.1% |
|
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks |
1,297,000 |
90.9% |
|
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners |
1,407,000 |
89.0% |
|
Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides |
1,928,000 |
88.2% |
|
Personal and Home Care Aides |
973,000 |
86.1% |
|
Office Clerks, General |
994,000 |
84.2% |
Women and Men in Occupations in OECD Countries
- Women tend to work in a much narrower range of occupations than men; according to a report by the OECD, half of all women work in eleven or fewer of themajor occupation groups.18
- However, half of the men work in more than twenty of these occupations.19
- Gender gaps in occupations are particularly marked in the United States, Italy, Ireland, Greece and the United Kingdom compared to other OECD countries.20
Female Dominated Occupations in 20 OECD Countries21> Women Occupations Women to Men Ratio* Pre-primary education teaching associate professionals 14.5 : 1 Nursing and midwifery professionals 10.1 : 1 Secretaries and keyboard-operating clerks 9.8 : 1 Nursing and midwifery associate professionals 9.5 : 1 Personal care and related workers 9.3 : 1 Primary education teaching associate professionals 6.2 : 1 Shop, stall and market salespersons and demonstrators 5.8 : 1 Special education teaching professionals 5.6 : 1 Domestic and related helpers, cleaners and launderers 5.4 : 1 Primary and pre-primary education teaching 5.3 : 1
*The ratio of women employees to male employees. For example, there are over 14 women working in "Pre-primary education teaching associate professionals," for every man in the occupation.
Male Dominated Occupations in 20 OECD Countries22 Men Occupations Men to Women Ratio Miners, shot firers, stone cutters and carvers 80.2 : 1 Building frame and related trades workers 64.8 : 1 Ships’ deck crews and related workers 52.9 : 1 Building finishers and related trades workers 35.4 : 1 Mining and construction labourers 35.3 : 1 Agricultural and other mobile plant operators 30.5 : 1 Mining and mineral-processing-plant operators 24.5 : 1 Metal moulders, welders, sheet-metal workers, structural-metal preparers, and related trades workers 23.1 : 1 Machinery mechanics and fitters 21.7 : 1 Power-production and related plant operators 15.9 : 1
Catalyst Award Winners
The Catalyst Award annually honors innovative organizational approaches with proven, measurable results that address the recruitment, development, and advancement of all women, including women of color.
Four of the companies that won the Catalyst Award were in male-dominated industries. 1 Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, "Quick Facts on Nontraditional Occupations for Women," 2008 Annual Averages (2009). 2 Barbara Wootten, Gender Differences in Occupational Employment (April 1997). 3Anika K. Warren, Cascading Gender Biases, Compounding Effects: An Assessment of Talent Management Systems (Catalyst, 2009). 4Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 18: Employed Persons by Detailed Industry, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011). Stats Can, "Industry - North American Industry Classification System 2002 (433), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," 2006 Census (Released March 4th,2008. Modified April 14th, 2011). 5Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 18: Employed Persons by Detailed Industry, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011). Stats Can, "Industry - North American Industry Classification System 2002 (433), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," 2006 Census (Released March 4th,2008. Modified April 14th, 2011). 6Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 18: Employed Persons by Detailed Industry, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011). Stats Can, "Industry - North American Industry Classification System 2002 (433), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," 2006 Census (Released March 4th,2008. Modified April 14th, 2011). 7Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 18: Employed Persons by Detailed Industry, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011). Stats Can "Industry - North American Industry Classification System 2002 (433), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," 2006 Census (Released March 4th,2008. Modified April 14th, 2011). 8Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 18: Employed Persons by Detailed Industry, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011). ; Stats Can, "Industry - North American Industry Classification System 2002 (433), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," 2006 Census (Released March 4th,2008. Modified April 14th, 2011). 9 Stats Can, Can "Industry - North American Industry Classification System 2002 (433), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," 2006 Census (Released March 4th,2008. Modified April 14th, 2011). 10Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, "Table 18: Employed Persons by Detailed Industry, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity," Annual Averages 2010 (2011). 11 Liz Mulligan-Ferry, Rachel Soares, Jan Combopiano, Jaye Cullen, and Laura Riker, "Appendix 7: Women’s Representation by NAICS Industry," 2010 Catalyst Census: Financial Post 500 Women Senior Officers and Top Earners (Catalyst, 2011). 12 Rachel Soares, Baye Cobb, Ellen Lebow, Hannah Winsten, Veronica Wojnas, and Allyson Regis, "Appendix 7: Women’s Representation by NAICS Industry," 2011 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (Catalyst, 2011). 13 Laura Jenner, Liz Mulligan-Ferry, Rachel Soares, "Appendix 6: Women’s Representation by NAICS Industry," 2009 Catalyst Census: FP500 Women Board Directors (Catalyst, 2010). Rachel Soares, Baye Cobb, Ellen Lebow, Hannah Winsten, Veronica Wojnas, and Allyson Regis, "Appendix 7: Women’s Representation by NAICS Industry," 2011 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (Catalyst, 2011). 14 Statistics Canada, "Statistics Canada catalogue no. 97-559-XCB20060112006: Occupation - National Occupational Classification for Statistics 2006 (720), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," Census of Population (2008). 15 Department of Labor, "Nontraditional Occupations for Women in 2009" (April 2010). 16 Statistics Canada, "Statistics Canada catalogue no. 97-559-XCB20060112006: Occupation - National Occupational Classification for Statistics 2006 (720), Class of Worker (6) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data," Census of Population (2008). 17 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Annual Averages 2010. > 18 "Occupations of Men and Women," Women and Men in OECD Countries (2005). 19 "Occupations of Men and Women," Women and Men in OECD Countries (2005). 20 "Occupations of Men and Women," Women and Men in OECD Countries (2005). 21 "Occupations of Men and Women," Women and Men in OECD Countries (2005). 22 "Occupations of Men and Women," Women and Men in OECD Countries (2005). 23 Catalyst, "CH2M HILL—Constructing Pathways for Women Through Inclusion" (2009) 24 Catalyst, "Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.—Women in the Driver's Seat: Gender Diversity as a Lever in Japan" (2008). 25 Catalyst, "BP p.l.c.—Global Path to Diversity and Inclusion" (2006). 26 Catalyst, "Georgia-Pacific Corporation—Bridging Cultures, Leveraging Differences" (2005). UPDATED December 14, 2011
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