Scope for Women in Indian Auto Industry – Everything You Need to Know

Gone are the days when the automobile industry was considered synonymous with a strictly-male workforce. While a few women have been taking up job roles in sub-sectors such as sales and marketing in the past, manufacturing observed the lowest percentage of female workers. This low gender diversity was not restricted to the Indian automotive industry but was observed globally. However, now, not only women are becoming more passionate to land automotive jobs, but employers are also taking necessary measures to encourage women to join the industry as they constitute approximately 48 per cent of the available talent pool. 

Hurdles Women Faced in the Auto Industry 

A survey found that only 1% of women want to join the auto industry though it is one of the largest industries. Their preferred industries are education, technology, media and telecom, financial services, consumer products and life sciences. Some of the reasons why women tend to avoid career opportunities in the automotive industry are: 

• 65% of women find the work environment to be unappealing 

• 59% experience a lack of work-life balance 

• Lack of flexible schedule concerns 46% of them 

• 39% experience a lack of advancement opportunities 

Reasons Why Auto Companies are Keen to Hire More Women 

• Hiring the most talented and skilled professionals from the available talent pool helps create a competitive environment for better performance. 

• Women employees are observed to have more longevity at service as compared to men. If the environment is stable and comfortable, women stick for a long time with the company. 

• Organisations with a higher percentage of female employees report more creativity and innovation at different levels. 

• Since the percentage of female automobile customers is now increasing, companies want them to contribute as key decision-makers by being a part of the higher leadership management teams. 

Steps Recruiters are Taking to Enable Gender Inclusion 

• Encouraging women through awareness programmes and showcasing success stories 

• Creating a women-friendly, safe and hygienic work environment 

• Including gender inclusion in the KPIs of the company 

• Learning from other industries like education that interest women 

Opportunity for Women in the Indian Automotive Industry 

Industry giants like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp and Eicher Motors are striving to accelerate gender inclusion at their organisations. They are encouraging skill development and employment opportunities for female staff through various means. A motivating example comes from Eicher Motors. Its two-wheeler division - Royal Enfield engages a workforce of approximately 140 women to run an entire engine assembly line. 

Women are not only joining the Indian auto industry but also making their mark, as a female worker at Mahindra & Mahindra earned recognition as an “outstanding woman welder” at the International Welding Competition held in Beijing. 

How to Build a Career in the Automotive Industry 

After learning about the scope for females in the Indian auto industry, the question arises ‘how to enter the industry?’ Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) is the one-stop destination for all automotive jobs related needs. They partner with major automobile companies of the country and bring them on a common platform to offer employment opportunities to qualified candidates irrespective of their gender. If an aspiring candidate lacks the required skills or qualification for their desired job role, ASDC assists by counselling and offering relevant skill development courses. 

Courses such as Automotive Service Technician Trade Certification and programmes like Automotive Sales Training Programme offered by ASDC meet industry standards and are recognised by the Government of India. 

Wrapping Up 

The automotive industry is an ever-flourishing industry as it constantly observes technological advancements and innovation. Building a career in this industry can help achieve a successful future. Now that the industry is also upgrading itself to meet the needs of female employees, they just need to take one step to embark on their journey towards a thriving career opportunity.