It is no secret that the mechanical engineering sector has traditionally been male-dominated. At MICROingranaggi, around one quarter of our workforce is made up of women, although they are primarily employed in non-technical roles.
Antonella Silvagni, the company’s CFO and Head of Human Resources, shared her perspective on this topic.
“The mechanical engineering industry is still largely male-dominated,” she explains. “In our company, opportunities to recruit women into technical positions are unfortunately quite limited—but certainly not because we lack the willingness to do so. Quite the opposite. The issue starts much earlier: very few girls choose to study at technical schools. In my opinion, that’s a real shame, particularly when I think about the shortage of skilled technical personnel we deal with every day.”
So why are so few young women pursuing careers in mechanical engineering?
One reason lies in the widespread perception that technical and mechanical professions are somehow more suitable for men. This stereotype continues to discourage many women from considering a career in the industry.
According to Antonella, much more could be done to change this situation.
“It’s disappointing that, even today, such strong preconceptions still exist,” she continues. “Given the genuine demand for highly skilled technical professionals, I believe the education system could do much more to encourage young women to pursue these career paths. If guidance toward STEM subjects were strengthened—perhaps with initiatives specifically aimed at female students—the mechanical engineering sector, and manufacturing in general, would undoubtedly benefit.”
Antonella is also keen to emphasize an important point:
“I don’t believe there is any difference between what men and women are capable of achieving. We know very well that what truly makes the difference in the workplace is the individual—their skills, attitude, and commitment—not their gender.”
Her argument is ultimately a practical one.
“If more women chose careers in mechanical engineering, the overall pool of qualified technical professionals available to industry would naturally grow. At a time when companies are struggling to recruit skilled people, expanding that talent pool would benefit everyone.”
