Access to Decent Work

The ILO estimates that 16.8% of the global workforce in transport are women. 

Working culture and gender stereotypes 

We must take steps to challenge the narrative surrounding ‘men’s work’ versus ‘women’s work’ in the workplace. For example, using branding and advertising to help shift perceptions of women’s work and implementation of workplace training and awareness on equality and diversity for all. 

Recruitment 

Companies need recruitment strategies that directly target women, and the entire recruitment process must not discriminate.  

Where there are proactive recruitment initiatives to increase women’s employment in occupations that challenge occupational segregation, for example driving jobs, it is important that the programmes are complete and provide sufficient support for women workers to be able to take advantage of the opportunity. 

Transport jobs by gender

Even today, many jobs in transport are seen as ‘men’s work’ or ‘women’s work’. In some cases, the industry is viewed by some as no place for women. This systemic and often normalised bias excludes women from some workplaces and some transport roles and is the root of many of the inequalities that we see in the industry.

In some countries, it is illegal for women to work in certain transport roles. 

Top 10 roles men

Traditionally seen as men’s jobs, they are often more secure and better paid.

According to the ITF Equality Testing Research, in 2018, these were the top ten roles where men workers were reported to be preferred over women.

DRIVER
SECURITY
TECHNICAL/TRADES PERSON/ENGINEER
INSPECTOR
AIRLINE PILOT
SHIPS OFFICER
CRANE OPERATOR
HARBOURMASTER
SUPERVISOR/MANAGER
TRAIN/BUS CONDUCTOR
Top 10 roles women

They are lower paid, tend to be customer facing rather than operational and may be more precarious. 

These were the top ten roles where women workers were reported to be preferred over men. 

For many women transport workers, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination are an everyday lived reality, often manifesting in unequal access to employment opportunities and decent work. 

Although women’s employment in the sector remains low, increasing numbers of women are entering the transport industry for work and challenging occupational segregation. 

CLEANER/LAUNDRY WORKER
ADMINISTRATOR
HUMAN RESOURCES
CUSTOMER SERVICES/SALES/TICKETING
CABIN CREW
MARKETING
FINANCE
CHECK-IN
CATERER/COOK/CHEF
CRUISE ENTERTAINER
Find out more
Resources

Equality Testing in Transport

This research was commissioned by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and carried out in partnership with researchers at the University of Western Ontario (Western). This report