At InHerSight.com, where you can get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a woman working at companies across the U.S., we recently dug into our ratings data for over 12,500 companies to look for the best and worst industries for career-focused women. Here’s what we found.
The Best Industries
Career-focused millennials would do well to consider these industries, where we see some of the highest ratings in categories like women in leadership, management opportunities, salary satisfaction, and equal opportunities for men and women.
Organizations
This industry group includes non-profits, political organizations, religious institutions, think-tanks, and a handful of other mission-driven organizations. A couple of stand-out examples are DonorsChoose.org and AARP. Both have received good ratings for their career opportunities from the women working for them. See more organizations here.
Corporate Services
Corporate services includes companies who specialize in accounting, management consulting, public relations, staffing, and recruiting. EY and CEB are just two of the companies in this group with good ratings in our career-focused categories. See more corporate services companies here.
Currently have a job in one of these industries? Let us know if you agree with our findings by rating your company today.
The Worst Industries
We wish that every industry could be great for women, but unfortunately that’s not the case just yet. According to our data, collected from tens of thousands of working women, here are some of the worst-rated industries for career-focused women:
Manufacturing
Manufacturing encompasses automotive, aerospace, energy, shipbuilding, railroad, and utility companies. But it’s not all bad news for career-focused women in those fields! Two companies that seem to be doing better than most in our career categories are General Electric and Ford. See all manufacturing companies here.
Construction
A whole host of activities around construction, including architecture & planning, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering companies fall into this industry. Just like with manufacturing, there are a few companies that break the mold in terms of their support for career-focused women. One standout company in the construction industry is Colorado-based CH2M. See more construction companies here.
So what does it mean for you if you are a woman who works in one of the worst industries? Well, it means that you may have a more challenging time climbing that corporate ladder, receiving proper recognition for your work, or even landing a job in the first place.
But don’t let that discourage you from going after what you want. Whether you’re a millennial looking for great career opportunities, an expectant mother interested in support for your growing family, or someone who wants to grow personally, we can help you do your research and find the companies best suited to your needs! To get your own personal best companies list, sign up today.
At InHerSight, our mission is to improve the workplace for women by measuring it. We bring women’s insights together into a common framework to show what’s working and what’s not at companies, and to help more women find their ideal workplace.
Lisa Crocco is a freelance writer who can be found wandering the aisles of local bookstores or the streets of different cities. Follow her on Twitter or read more of her work.
