Women Face Ongoing Hiring Barriers and Data Gaps Across Automotive Trades
Washington, Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Federal data reveals women hold under 19% of automotive repair jobs, while classification gaps obscure female participation in the $32 billion automotive recycling sector amidst growing labor shortages.
Federal Data and Classification Gaps
In August 2026, federal workforce statistics confirmed that women remain a distinct minority within the U.S. automotive repair and maintenance trades [1]. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics collected in April 2026 indicates that women represent 18.2% of employment in the general automotive repair and maintenance category [1]. Within the more specialized subset of automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance, female participation drops to 15.9% [1]. While repair data exists, the automotive recycling sector faces significant measurement hurdles due to fragmented classification systems [1]. The Automotive Recyclers Association reports that the industry comprises over 9,000 locations and employs more than 140,000 people across the United States [1]. Despite generating over $32 billion in annual sales, there is a lack of specific federal data for automotive recycling because the industry is fragmented across various classifications [1]. Businesses are often categorized based on whether they focus on wholesale used parts or recyclable scrap, complicating efforts to measure female participation accurately [1].
Leadership and Economic Outlook
Natasha Broxton, founder and CEO of Select Auto Parts & Sales in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has operated her 125,000-square-foot facility since 2012, marking 14 years of industry experience as of 2026 14 [1]. Broxton notes that representation is not only about who gets invited into the room but also about who people can see owning the company and making decisions [1]. The Automotive Recyclers Association’s 2025–2026 leadership roster includes women in senior positions, such as Emily Yancey as Secretary of the Executive Committee [1]. As automotive executive leadership and policymakers confront chronic skilled labor shortages across supply chains, resolving data gaps is essential for building a resilient automotive workforce [1]. Broxton emphasizes that the future of the industry will require more technology, skilled people, and creative leadership [1]. Industry analysts warn that treating women as outsiders limits the pool of available talent needed to sustain the sector’s $32 billion annual output [1].