INDUSTRY FOCUS WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING
Women in STEM and the impact on Irish Manufacturing
By Casey Porter, Editor, Irish Manufacturing A
s newly appointed Editor of Irish Manufacturing, I am inundated with updates from
large corporations on their efforts to promote the ongoing trend, ‘Women in STEM’, to combat Ireland’s STEM skills shortage, but is this just a trend, a marketing ploy that the Irish Manufacturing sector has picked up on, or is it a movement that has seen the rise in women taking on roles signifi cant to the Manufacturing space?
Upon digging a bit deeper to see if the ‘Women In STEM’ movement has become impactful within the Iirish Manufacturing sector, or if progress in the way of career equality has left much to be desired i descovered this.
Through recent research and extensive exposure
to the Irish Manufacturing sector, it is becoming increasingly exciting to consider the idea that perhaps this is not just a pr plot, and perhaps we are looking at a revolution of sorts. World Economic Forum: Global Gender Gap Report, 2024, noted how there are four main factors that impact the development of women in STEM; Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment.
There seem to be an increase in programmes
and organisational initiatives seeing the aspect of ‘education’ and ‘opportunity’ confronted most commonly with collectives like WITS (Women in Technology & Science Ireland) working on the inclusion of women through networking, reducing the opportunity gap for Irish women looking to be involved in STEM. Through being able to connect with other women in Irish companies, that promote their enrollment of women in apprenticeships, training programmes and job roles, women are exposed to the educational attainment that previously stood as another pillar that hinders the progression of women in Manufacturing fi elds. Skillnet Ireland, in 2021, also look to reduce the gap in education and opportunity with the release of an ‘Overview of the programmes and initiatives which attract, retain and promote gender diversity in science, technology, engineering and Mathematics’, outlining, in three sections, steps that aid in solidifying a culture more built upon an equal opportunity. Ireland, according to Skillnet, has the highest rate of graduates in the EU in 2021, at 40.3 per 1,000 of persons aged 20-29 compared to an EU average of 21.9. With this staggering fi gure also comes the statistic of women graduates in
comparison to men, with the fi gure standing at 27.4 female STEM graduates per 1,000 to the male 53.0. Skillnet created this guide as a direct response to the evident gender gap, discussing how, “The disparity in STEM related sectors is, if anything, even more pronounced. ” The way in which Ireland can even the playing fi eld through not only attraction, but retention, furthers women’s opportunities within STEM and opens the door to discovering other forms of education that may lead to a career in Manufacturing. However, The ‘Empowering Women in STEM
(2025)’ report highlights that despite growing awareness and targeted initiatives, many structural and cultural barriers continue to limit women’s representation, particularly in technical and senior roles. While awareness of gender imbalance has grown and many companies have launched initiatives to close the gap, deep-rooted structural and cultural barriers still stand in the way. Behind the glossy marketing campaigns and
diversity slogans, women in manufacturing often face subtle but powerful obstacles, from outdated perceptions about who belongs in technical roles to the quiet absence of female mentors who can show what’s possible. Many workplaces remain structured around rigid hours and traditional hierarchies that don’t refl ect the realities of modern life, making it harder for women to progress or even stay in the sector long-term. The report also points to unconscious bias in recruitment and promotion, where women’s achievements can be undervalued or overlooked altogether. These issues don’t just limit individual careers; they limit
26 September/October 2025 Irish Manufacturing
innovation and growth for the entire industry. Until these ingrained barriers are addressed head-on, progress will remain partial, more movement than momentum.
It is evident through my exploration that the
‘Women in STEM’ movement is no longer just a catchy headline or a convenient corporate talking point. Real change is happening within Irish manufacturing, women are stepping into roles once considered out of reach, driving innovation, and reshaping the industry’s culture. However, progress is uneven, and the path to
genuine equality remains a work in progress. The challenge now lies not in launching new campaigns, but in ensuring that inclusion is embedded in every level of the manufacturing world. If Ireland’s manufacturing sector continues to nurture this momentum with sincerity and purpose, the movement will evolve from trend to transformation.
World Economic Forum: Global Gender Gap Report 2024,
www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender- gap-report-2024/ Empowering Women in STEM: a gender representation study for the health technology sector in Ireland 2025,
SkillnetIreland.ie WITS (Women in Technology and Science Ireland),
https://witsireland.com/
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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