The results of our Gender Equality Survey Launched are launched today at our seminar: Woodworking and Gender: What’s the Story?
Over 70 participants will be attending our Woodworking and Gender Seminar today at the Sylva Wood Centre, where our important online survey will be officially launched by CEO Dr Gabriel Hemery.
Providing foundational research for both the Woodworking and Gender seminar, and to inform a new programme aiming to support gender equality in the wood-based furniture industry, key findings of the survey are:
- Across all businesses 20% of the workforce were women
- Among senior roles, 29% were held by women
- Among those working in manufacturing, 8.5% were women
- While most respondents believed their place of work was gender inclusive, some stressed the difficulty of recruiting women to their business
Read the full Woodworking Industry Gender Equality Survey Report 2023 here.
Abstract
An online survey was developed by Sylva Foundation in 2023, aiming to gather data and information from employers from the woodworking industry in Britain concerning gender equality. Limited existing research, supported by anecdotal evidence, had indicated significant gender inequality. The 2023 survey was completed on behalf of 28 businesses by respondents who were 56% male. Businesses represented were mainly involved in manufacturing with wood and were furniture makers. In total, 954 employees were represented, with the largest business employing 135 people, the smallest 5. Across all businesses, 20% of the workforce were women. Among senior roles, 29% were held by women. Among those working in manufacturing, 8.5% were women. Most respondents believed that their place of work was gender inclusive, and a wide range of comments were received, some stressing the difficulty of recruiting women to their business. Sylva Foundation intends to use the results of this survey to inform a new programme aiming to support gender equality in the wood-based furniture industry.
