Women’s participation in historically male-dominated sectors has shown remarkable progress in recent years, and transportation and logistics are no exception. However, disparities still exist in variables such as the number of people employed in this industry, the distribution of salaries, and the level of education .
According to the 2024 Annual Transportation Survey (EAT) by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , women’s representation in the transportation sector and related services, as well as in total pay, does not exceed 25 percent . However, a slight increase is observed compared to previous years; furthermore, the agency highlighted that women with higher education predominate in this industry.
The survey indicated that women’s employment in the sector increased from 20.8% in 2023 to 21.4% in 2024. In terms of remuneration, their share was 23.2% of the total in 2024, compared to 22.3% in 2023.
In the case of personnel employed by sector, in general freight transport the number of women increased from 18,237 in 2023 to 23,139 in 2024, which meant an increase of 26.8%; while in specialized freight transport they increased from 15,541 to 19,870, an increase of 27.8 percent.
In scheduled air transport , the number of women employed saw a modest increase of 3.4%, reaching 14,293 last year. The most significant rise was in rail transport , where the number of women employed increased from 706 to 1,057, a rise of 49.7%.
In foreign courier and parcel services , the participation of women showed a growth of 15.2% in 2024.
Wage gaps persist
Despite the increased participation of women in various sectors of the transportation industry, wage gaps and inequality in professional roles persist. According to the survey, men continue to concentrate operational tasks, while women are primarily assigned to administrative and support functions, perpetuating deeply rooted cultural practices in hiring processes.
Although, paradoxically, women showed higher levels of education: 44.4% have higher education compared to 19% of men , while only 19.7% of them have basic education compared to 42.2% of men, which reflects a greater preparation on their part, although this advantage does not translate into an equivalent proportion of income or a broader representation.
Regarding wages paid to personnel in the sector, the survey revealed that 2024 was marked by significant setbacks for women. The railway sector was the most affected, registering a 94.8% decrease, falling from 12.352 billion pesos (MXN) in 2023 to 633 million MXN in 2024.
General freight transport followed , with a contraction of 83.7% in 2024 compared to 2023, plummeting from 38,154 million pesos to 6,206 million pesos. Finally, courier services showed a decrease of 81.7%, going from 11,011 million pesos to 2,014 million pesos.
Scheduled air transport was the least affected sector for women, with total compensation of 8.598 billion pesos in 2024, a decrease of 26.2% compared to 2023, when 11.656 billion pesos were earned. This trend reflected a severe blow to the distribution of women’s wages within the sector.
“We need to raise our voices”
In this context, Vianey Amador, a logistics specialist and one of the 100 Women in Transport and Logistics , emphasized that sexism continues to be a determining factor in the sector, and that women face obstacles that their male colleagues do not encounter, especially in balancing personal and professional life .
“I think that at a social level, in general, from your family, school, even labor laws, it’s complicated in the following sense. Women were presented with more challenges and obstacles to develop as equals to a male colleague,” she stated.
The pressure on women who are mothers is a clear example of these obstacles, as many must choose between family and profession, which discourages their participation in the sector.
“It’s unfair when you prepare yourself professionally and you want to get ahead, but society and the business environment itself start to push you to choose between your profession and your family,” he said.
Given this situation, Amador proposed solutions that seek to close the gaps and considered a labor reform with a care perspective “essential,” including flexible hours and permits that allow for a balance between life and work .
He also proposed that there be impartial training and assessments to measure skills objectively, ensuring equal conditions.
“Regardless of gender. But you have already given them equal opportunities to compete, because you are training them and guiding them towards an evaluation,” he emphasized.
Finally, she invited women to “raise their voices,” reminding them that, being prepared, they have “a perspective, an opinion, and surely a lot to contribute . “
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