Women are a major asset to Quebec car dealers. Hardworking, conscientious, empathetic, and outstanding leaders, they have everything it takes to excel in the automotive sector. Women have been part of the industry for over 100 years, dating back to the manufacture of war vehicles. Today, women are everywhere: they are mechanics, managers, sales associates, communications officers, and marketing professionals. Their unique perspective offers a new way of looking at certain situations and adds balance to an environment that is predominantly male. While it is true that more and more women are joining the industry, they are still woefully underrepresented. Why is this? What can we do to change it?
Facts
In Quebec, women account for only 18% of the workforce in the automotive industry
Even today, gender bias exists in the organizational cultures of many traditionally male-dominated sectors, and women face numerous challenges in the workplace and during the hiring process.
A predominantly male workplace means that working conditions are not always adapted to the lifestyles of female employees. For example, work-life balance measures may be less advantageous than in other sectors.
In skilled trades, the percentage of women drops to 6.4%. In auto body repair, it can be as low as 2.5%
Workforce attraction practices are still mainly geared towards men.
Onboarding, integration, skills development programs, and human resources management processes can be non-existent or ill-suited to gender diversity in the workplace.
Solutions
Employers
Build a more inclusive corporate culture to promote equity and challenge stereotypes and prejudices.
Articulate the benefits of gender diversity in the workplace and implement effective strategies to promote accommodations at all levels of the organization.
Offer attraction, integration, and ongoing skills development programs.
Improve working conditions and implement work-life balance measures that are more appealing to women.
Industry
Promote trades in a more representative way to raise awareness and attract the next generation of women.
Government
Provide support for training programs, incentives, and media campaigns to attract and recruit women workers.
A step in the right direction!
The Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre des services automobiles (CSMO-Auto) has already launched projects to promote the industry to different populations, improve working conditions, and contribute to a change in perspective. CSMO-Auto is actively involved in these issues and has made several tools available to help companies move forward.
As car dealers, equity and diversity are paramount. We applaud these remarkable initiatives and continue to work toward progress in Quebec.
Sources:
- Guide de sensibilisation pour le projet GPS (Gestion proactive et stratégique de la main-d’œuvre féminine), développé par le Centre d’intégration au marché de l’emploi (CIME) en collaboration avec le CSMO-Auto – 2018.
- Répertoire des meilleures pratiques en ressources humaines (Gestion proactive et stratégique de la main-d’œuvre féminine), développé par le Centre d’intégration au marché de l’emploi (CIME) en collaboration avec le CSMO-Auto – 2018
- Avance des femmes dans l’industrie automobile (AFIA) Rapport sur l’évaluation des besoins – PDF – Mars 2016
Notable women in the automotive industry
Tanya Di Gregorio
Even as a child, Tanya Di Gregorio was always fascinated by cars. She channeled this passion into a diploma of vocational studies in auto mechanics.
Nathalie Aumont
Joliette Toyota is a family-owned business founded by Gilles Aumont 42 years ago. Nathalie Aumont has been working there for 30 years. She remembers growing up at the dealership, where her parents worked full time, but she never expected to pursue a career in the industry.
Steffy Theetge
Steffy Theetge has been with the Groupe Theetge Communications Department for three years and is currently the director of Communications, Marketing, and Online Sales for all three dealerships.
