Women in technical professions

International Women's Day arose around the time of the First World War, in the struggle for equal rights and the vote for women.

Women in engineering

Women currently make up only around 15% of those in technical occupations in Austria. Why is that? On the way into engineering, girls and women encounter various obstacles. It starts with the influence of family and social environment on career choice and ends with the minority status of women in technical occupations, which is off-putting and can be experienced as a constant strain.

Women engineers at Gottwald

Last year we were already able to put some of our colleagues in the spotlight and report on their working lives and their views on "women in engineering". To mark International Women's Day 2022, it is now the turn of our youngsters! Our apprentices are female role models who show that a technical career is both feasible and perfectly normal. Read for yourself what they have to say!

“Well, why shouldn't the trade be for girls?”

Electrical technician? Absolutely!

Asked whether the trade of electrical technician is also suitable for girls, Michelle does not mince her words: “Well, why shouldn't the trade be for girls? It would be the same as asking whether being a hairdresser is suitable for a man. It really doesn't matter! What matters is knowing for yourself what you enjoy, what you are taking on, and then seeing it through.”

Christine sees it much the same way: “Whether you're a boy or a girl – some things you can do better, others less well. Skills are often attributed to one gender. I think that has become fixed in our heads, but the reality looks quite different.”

Connected to the company

We are proud of our young women, which is why we are glad to put them in the spotlight! Anja looks back on the autumn of 2021: “I was able to be at the "School & Career" fair in Wieselburg and represent the company externally in my role as an apprentice. That was an exciting experience and it definitely makes me proud.”

What our young skilled workers have in common is that they all feel comfortable and accepted among the many male colleagues. “Of course it helps not to be lost for words. I like the easy-going way I get on with my colleagues, there's plenty of banter and we achieve great things together,” says Michelle.

Leonie adds: “I definitely want to stay with the company after my apprenticeship too. Here they look after every apprentice and the company has a lot to offer me.”