Resources for businesses
How to attract women to your business
New Zealand’s automotive industry has a skilled labour shortage and the demand for trades labour will only continue to grow. It makes sense to actively target women who are under-represented in the automotive workforce.
Did you know?
Women make up 51% of the population, but only 17% of the automotive workforce and 6% in an apprenticeship.
Why diversify your workforce?
There is a clear business case for increasing numbers of women within the automotive workforce. The future prosperity of the automotive industry will be dependent on its ability to attract and retain top diverse talent in workplace cultures where everyone can thrive.
- Address the skills shortage: The trade is struggling to fill technical roles, to the point that many of these roles are listed on Immigration New Zealand's skills shortage list to allow employers to recruit from overseas. Women represent a large pool of capable candidates many businesses aren't reaching.
- Represent our customers: Women buy approximately 44% of cars in New Zealand and influence around 85% of household vehicle decisions, but at 17% of the automotive workforce, are significantly underrepresented in decisions around which products are being brought into the country, the marketing of these products, and the sales and aftersales experience.
- Improve business performance: Research shows that organisations with inclusive cultures are:
- Six times more likely to predict and adapt to change
- Six times more likely to show innovation
- Twice as likely to exceed financial targets.
- Lead the way and leave a legacy: The New Zealand automotive industry has an opportunity to lead the way in improving diversity and inclusion, and take bold action that leaves a lasting legacy for our businesses and wider sector.
Sounds good. How can I go about it?
Quite simply….. just do it! Here are some tips to help:
- Ensure your job adverts reflect that you are open to receiving applications from anyone. If possible, include a photo of women employee(s) in the advert and on your website.
- Check that the language you use in your job adverts appeals to everyone. You can do this for free here: www.gender-decoder.katmatfield.com
- Advertise your job vacancy on social media which allows you to target women in your region.
- Connect with your local secondary school, polytechnic and MITO – Te Pūkenga. They can connect you to school leavers and jobseekers.
- When interviewing at your workplace involve a female employee to assist.
- Ensure the workplace is welcoming of women. Put yourselves in the shoes of a daughter, sister or niece – would you want them working at your workplace?
- As part of their induction, consider buddying them with one of your female employees.
- If not already available, work towards providing female-specific toilet/changing room facilities.
Other resources to help
- Diversity Works New Zealand – Top tips
- Ministry of Women – Growing Your Trades Workforce: How To Attract Women to Your Jobs
- Ministry of Women – Women and Work
- MITO Job Hub – List your vacancy and view jobseekers who want to join the automotive industry
- TradeCareers – Supporting women into the trades
- Women in Trades – Supporting women into the trades
- Recruit Mum – Jobs for Mums
- Crayon – Parental leave and other assistance
