Barriers to women’s employment in the transport sector in Europe

Background: The H2020 TinnGO (Transport and Innovation Gender Observatory) project addressed gender inequality in mobility patterns, education and employment in the transport sector. The European transport sector typically employs between 22–27% of female workers – making it one of the most traditional, male dominated, and change resistant sectors. Reducing gender inequalities in the sector are seen as key to increasing sustainable and inclusive transport. This paper provides 1) a contemporary picture of women’s work experiences in the transport sector in 10 socially and economically divergent counties in the European Union (i.e., UK, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Baltic Countries, Greece); and 2) recommendations on how to reduce gender inequalities.
Methods: Data was collected using desk top research, surveys, follow up interviews and case studies with successful women and female entrepreneurs from the countries represented in the TInnGO consortium. Interview schedules were provided to ensure consistency across the sample.
Results: The results triangulated well. Persistent themes emerged relevant to women’s underrepresentation in certain transport-related jobs and their over representation in support and administrative functions. The surveys revealed key barriers such as misogynistic attitudes, male dominated hierarchies, recruitment bias, reluctance to acknowledge a woman’s role and contributions, gender pay gap, male - dominated professional networks and the gender ‘glass ceiling’. Follow up interviews explored the strategies women had used to overcome these.
Conclusions: The number of women employed in transport is slowly rising despite gender inequalities in employment. Although some countries have developed frameworks for encouraging women into STEM careers, mentorship schemes and networks, the results show that these are not enough to reduce the persistent gender inequalities, harassment and stereotyping women are subjected to on a daily basis. Concrete recommendations are provided on ways in which the quality of working life for women in the sector can be improved.