An increasing number of women in northeast Indiana are entering the manufacturing and construction work forces – typically considered non-traditional industries for women, according to data released by Northeast Indiana Works.

Moreover, the percentage share of women in those work forces is also rising. The number of women in manufacturing in northeast Indiana grew from 20,690 in 2011 to 25,055 in 2018 – an increase of 21.1 percent. Women’s share of the total region manufacturing workforce increased from 28.7 percent to 29.7 percent in that time frame.

The number of women in construction in northeast Indiana grew from 1,714 in 2011 to 2,205 in 2018 – or an increase of 28.6 percent. Women’s share of the total region construction workforce increased from 12.6 percent to 13.6 percent in that time frame.

The source for women in manufacturing and construction data was Quarterly Workforce Indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau, 3 rd Quarter Comparisons. The year 2011 was chosen as the starting point because that’s when the recession’s impact on employment began easing.