For the second consecutive year, AMN/Counterman and Babcox Media reached out to the automotive aftermarket asking for nominations of women who have been game-changers in their field. Nominations were open for candidates from the executive level to the counter pro to the shop owner who make a difference through innovation, business acumen or serving as a role model in the automotive aftermarket – women who create that spark.
Our inaugural 2020 Class of Women at the Wheel featured an incredible roster of women leading the charge in today’s aftermarket. With more than 118 nominations last year, we were thrilled to celebrate the 30 women who create that spark in the aftermarket. This year, we are turning that little spark into a blaze with more than 110 nominations and 34 women featured in this year’s class.
It is our honor and privilege to help shine a light on these incredible aftermarket professionals who work day in and day out, oftentimes under the radar and behind the scenes to keep this industry rolling. Read on to learn more about this year’s class of honorees and the important role they play in today’s workforce.
Check out our cover story on the 2021 Class of Women at the Wheel HERE.
Opportunity in the Aftermarket
The automotive aftermarket is a $405 billion industry. Today, women make up about half of the U.S. labor force, but only a quarter of the automotive workforce.
More Than Half of Management Roles Are Now Held by Women
In 2019, women held 51.8% of all management, professional and related occupations.
The 2020 Fortune 500 list published in May revealed a record high for the number of women CEOs (37). In comparison, men held 463 CEO positions in the Fortune 500.
Women Earn More Degrees Than Men
For the class of 2017–2018, women earned more than half of bachelor’s degrees (57.3%), master’s degrees (60.1%) and doctorate degrees (53.5%). This has been the case for some time: Women have earned more bachelor’s degrees than men since 1982, more master’s degrees than men since 1987 and more doctorate degrees than men since 2006.
*Source: Catalyst.org.