SWE Research: Workplace

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Exploring Women in Engineering Leadership: A Case Study

In 2023, SWE conducted a research study on behalf of Process Industry Practices (PIP) focused on women in engineering leadership to understand why the organization had a relatively high representation of women in leadership.

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative

The Society of Women Engineers, in collaboration with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support the creation of the Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative (WCEC).

Tags: Women of Color, Women Engineers in the Workplace

Advocates for Empowerment (A4E)

Advocates for Empowerment (A4E) is a gender parity and equality benchmarking program offered annually by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). A4E provides organizations with actionable information and assistance to recruit and retain diverse women in engineering and technology positions as well as advance them into top management.

Tags: Women of Color, Women Engineers in the Workplace

COVID-19 Research

In June 2020, SWE surveyed its members to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting their college and career plans. Most survey respondents were U.S.-based. In October 2020, a second survey was sent to SWE members in India to determine how the pandemic was affecting women engineers and engineering students in that country. Read about…

Tags: General Higher Education, Women Engineers in the Workplace, COVID-19

SWE 1993 Study of Engineers

In 1993, SWE released a report on a survey of a random sample of more than half a million American engineers who were members of one or more of 22 major professional or technical societies. This national survey of women and men engineers was groundbreaking in it scope and its focus on gender differences in…

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

Women in Engineering: Talent Pulse Report, 2019

In collaboration with People at Work, SWE conducted a survey of women engineers in the workforce to understand what they seek from employers. The findings from this survey of over 2,900 women engineers helps uncover areas of focus for employers who want to improve the employee experience for women in engineering and technology at their…

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

SWE Gender Culture Study

Understanding why women are leaving the engineering profession will inform efforts to increase retention of early- and mid-career professionals, and Organizational culture is a root cause of engagement and attrition, as value gaps can lead to dissatisfaction in the workplace. In other words, what companies say they value is not in line with what engineers…

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

Climate Control: Gender and Racial Bias in Engineering

Research studies indicate that almost 40% of female engineers leave the engineering workforce by midcareer. Implicit or unconscious bias can have a negative impact on the workplace climate, affecting decisions in hiring, promotions, and compensation for women and other underrepresented minorities in engineering, and keeping them from reaching senior-level and leadership positions. In partnership with…

Tags: Women of Color, Women Engineers in the Workplace

2017 White Paper: An Intervention Strategy to Re-engage Women Engineers in the Workforce

Without intervention strategies, the current demand for technical talent combined with the projected increase in the need for engineers will result in a significant shortage of skilled labor throughout the United States engineering industry. Increasing the persistence of women in engineering at all stages of their careers is imperative to solving this talent shortage. While…

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace, STEM Re-entry

Women of Color in Early Career: A SWE/NSBE Collaborative Study

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) collaborated on a qualitative research study to understand the experiences of women of color in the early stage of their engineering career. Only 6 percent of engineering bachelor’s degrees are earned by women of color (African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native…

Tags: Women of Color, Women Engineers in the Workplace