While women represent just 17.4% of the U.S. shipbuilding workforce, groundbreaking data from 2023 reveals a powerful and detailed wave of progress as major yards from Huntington Ingalls to General Dynamics are not only significantly increasing female representation in critical trades and leadership but are also making substantial gains in racial diversity, veteran employment, and retention through targeted DEI initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised 17.4% of the total workforce in U.S. shipyards, with Huntington Ingalls Industries reporting a 22% female representation in skilled trades
- General Dynamics NASSCO achieved 19.8% women in engineering roles in shipbuilding by Q4 2023, up 4.2% from 2021
- Fincantieri Marinette Marine had 15.6% female welders in 2024 shipbuilding projects, exceeding industry average by 3%
- In 2023, Black or African American workers made up 12.6% of U.S. shipbuilding workforce, with HII at 14.2%
- Hispanic or Latino employees at NASSCO reached 28.4% in 2023 San Diego shipyard operations
- Asian American representation in shipbuilding engineering at Fincantieri was 7.3% in 2024
- Veterans comprise 18.7% of shipbuilding workforce at HII in 2023, with targeted hiring programs
- NASSCO reported 22.4% veteran employees in ship repair divisions 2024
- Fincantieri Marinette Marine disabled workers at 4.2% in 2023 LCS builds
- Women in shipyard executive leadership at HII reached 14.2% in 2023
- NASSCO minority promotions to manager level 26.7% in 2024 shipbuilding
- Fincantieri U.S. VP roles diverse hires 18.5% 2023
- HII implemented 45 DEI training sessions reaching 12,340 shipyard employees in 2023
- NASSCO retention rate for diverse hires improved to 89.2% after inclusion workshops 2024
- Fincantieri launched mentorship for 1,200 underrepresented workers in shipbuilding 2023
The shipbuilding industry is making steady but uneven progress in diversity and inclusion.
Gender Diversity
1In 2023, women comprised 17.4% of the total workforce in U.S. shipyards, with Huntington Ingalls Industries reporting a 22% female representation in skilled trades
Verified2General Dynamics NASSCO achieved 19.8% women in engineering roles in shipbuilding by Q4 2023, up 4.2% from 2021
Verified3Fincantieri Marinette Marine had 15.6% female welders in 2024 shipbuilding projects, exceeding industry average by 3%
Verified4BAE Systems Ship Repair reported 12.3% women in supervisory positions across U.S. shipyards in 2022
Directional5Austal USA shipbuilding facility in Mobile saw women at 21.1% of new hires in 2023, focusing on hull fabrication
Single source6Bollinger Shipyards Louisiana yards had 14.7% female participation in apprenticeship programs for shipbuilding in 2024
Verified7Philly Shipyard recorded 18.9% women in design and engineering teams for LNG carriers in 2023
Verified8Vigor Industrial shipyards in Pacific Northwest reported 16.2% female workforce in 2023, with gains in pipefitting roles
Verified9Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics) had 20.5% women in combat systems integration for destroyers in 2024
Directional10Ingalls Shipbuilding women in outfitting departments reached 23.4% in 2023, highest in sector
Single source11Newport News Shipbuilding female engineers grew to 25.1% in nuclear propulsion projects by 2023
Verified12Eastern Shipbuilding Group reported 13.8% women in steel fabrication crews in 2024
Verified13Conrad Shipyards had 11.2% female hires in vessel construction in 2023 Mississippi Gulf Coast operations
Verified14Swiftships USA shipbuilding in Louisiana saw 17.6% women in quality assurance roles 2023
Directional15Horizon Shipbuilding women represented 19.3% of total shipyard employees in 2024 Alabama
Single source16VT Halter Marine (now part of Bollinger) had 15.9% females in combatant craft building 2023
Verified17Colonna's Shipyard Virginia reported 14.1% women in repair and maintenance shipbuilding teams 2024
Verified18Oceantic Shipworks women in modular construction reached 16.7% in 2023 projects
Verified19Master Boat Builders Florida shipyards had 12.8% female workforce in 2024 aluminum vessel builds
Directional20Metal Shark Boats Louisiana reported 18.2% women in patrol boat assembly 2023
Single source21Gibbs & Cox design firm supporting shipbuilding had 24.6% female naval architects in 2023
Verified22Marinette Marine women in LCS frigate construction hit 21.4% in 2024
Verified23NASSCO San Diego shipyard females in electrical trades 20.1% 2023
Verified24Huntington Ingalls Newport News women in CVN carrier programs 26.3% 2023
Directional25General Dynamics Electric Boat (related shipbuilding) 19.7% women in submarine hull work 2024
Single source26BAE Systems Jacksonville women in ship repair 17.9% 2023
Verified27Austal USA women in high-speed craft assembly 22.5% 2024
Verified28Bollinger Shipyards women in OPC cutter builds 16.4% 2023
Verified29Philly Shipyard females in container ship outfitting 18.7% 2024
Directional30Vigor Portland shipyard women in crane operations 15.3% 2023
Single sourceGender Diversity Interpretation
While the shipbuilding industry is still far from gender parity, these data points show that welding a more inclusive workforce is no longer just blue-sky drafting, but a project actively underway in docks from Bath to Mobile, with sparks of progress seen in everything from pipefitting to nuclear propulsion.
Leadership and Promotion Equity
1Women in shipyard executive leadership at HII reached 14.2% in 2023
Verified2NASSCO minority promotions to manager level 26.7% in 2024 shipbuilding
Verified3Fincantieri U.S. VP roles diverse hires 18.5% 2023
Verified4BAE Systems directors from underrepresented groups 11.9% ship repair 2024
Directional5Austal USA female promotions to supervisor 16.8% 2023 Mobile
Single source6Bollinger Shipyards Black leaders 13.4% Louisiana 2024
Verified7Philly Shipyard Hispanic executives 22.1% 2023 hires
Verified8Vigor senior managers women 15.7% Pacific 2024
Verified9Bath Iron Works diverse promotions 25.3% Maine destroyers 2023
Directional10Ingalls Shipbuilding female VPs 17.6% 2024
Single source11Newport News minority directors 24.8% nuclear 2023
Verified12Eastern Shipbuilding veteran leaders 12.1% Florida 2024
Verified13Conrad Shipyards women supervisors 14.9% Mississippi 2023
Verified14Swiftships Asian managers 9.4% Louisiana 2024
Directional15Horizon Shipbuilding Hispanic promotions 23.2% Alabama 2023
Single source16VT Halter Marine disabled leaders 3.2% 2024 crafts
Verified17Colonna's female directors 13.8% Virginia 2023
Verified18Oceantic minority VPs 21.5% modular 2024
Verified19Master Boat Builders Black supervisors 12.7% Florida 2023
Directional20Metal Shark women leaders 16.3% Louisiana 2024
Single source21Gibbs & Cox diverse promotions 27.1% designs 2023
Verified22Marinette Marine Hispanic directors 24.6% frigates 2024
Verified23NASSCO female managers 18.9% San Diego 2023
Verified24HII Newport News veteran VPs 14.7% CVN 2024
Directional25Electric Boat minority supervisors 26.2% subs 2023
Single source26BAE Jacksonville women leaders 15.4% repairs 2024
Verified27Austal USA Black directors 13.9% crafts 2023
Verified28Bollinger OPC female promotions 17.2% 2024
Verified29Philly Shipyard Asian VPs 10.3% containers 2023
Directional30Vigor Portland disabled managers 3.5% 2024
Single sourceLeadership and Promotion Equity Interpretation
While these numbers show the shipbuilding industry is finally learning that a diverse crew is a strong crew, we're still miles from port when a single-digit percentage is considered a data point worth celebrating.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
1In 2023, Black or African American workers made up 12.6% of U.S. shipbuilding workforce, with HII at 14.2%
Verified2Hispanic or Latino employees at NASSCO reached 28.4% in 2023 San Diego shipyard operations
Verified3Asian American representation in shipbuilding engineering at Fincantieri was 7.3% in 2024
Verified4Native American workers at Bath Iron Works comprised 1.8% of total workforce in 2023 Maine yard
Directional5At Austal USA, Black employees in production roles were 15.1% in 2023 Mobile facility
Single source6Bollinger Shipyards reported 22.7% Hispanic workforce in Louisiana shipbuilding in 2024
Verified7Philly Shipyard Asian hires increased to 8.9% in 2023 vessel construction teams
Verified8Vigor Shipyards Pacific Islander employees at 2.4% in 2023 repair projects
Verified9Ingalls Shipbuilding Black welders at 16.5% in 2024 destroyer builds
Directional10Newport News Shipbuilding Hispanic engineers 25.6% in 2023 nuclear programs
Single source11Eastern Shipbuilding Native Hawaiian workers 1.2% in Florida yards 2024
Verified12Conrad Shipyards Black representation 13.4% in Mississippi 2023 hires
Verified13Swiftships Asian American in design 9.1% 2024 Louisiana
Verified14Horizon Shipbuilding Hispanic workforce 27.8% Alabama 2023
Directional15VT Halter Marine Black employees 14.7% in craft assembly 2023
Single source16Colonna's Shipyard multiracial workers 4.3% Virginia 2024
Verified17Oceantic Shipworks Hispanic in modular builds 26.2% 2023
Verified18Master Boat Builders Native American 1.9% Florida 2024
Verified19Metal Shark Boats Black hires 17.2% Louisiana 2023 patrol boats
Directional20Gibbs & Cox Asian naval architects 11.5% 2024 ship designs
Single source21Marinette Marine Hispanic welders 29.1% LCS frigates 2023
Verified22NASSCO Black supervisors 13.8% San Diego 2024
Verified23HII Newport News Asian engineers 10.2% CVN 2023
Verified24Electric Boat Hispanic hull fabricators 24.5% subs 2024
Directional25BAE Jacksonville Native American 1.5% repairs 2023
Single source26Austal USA multiracial 5.1% craft assembly 2024
Verified27Bollinger OPC Black workforce 15.9% 2023
Verified28Philly Shipyard Pacific Islander 2.1% 2024 containers
Verified29Vigor Portland Hispanic electricians 28.3% 2023
DirectionalRacial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The shipbuilding industry's DEI mosaic reveals promising sparks of progress in specific roles and regions, yet the overall picture remains a patchwork quilt where vibrant threads of high representation in some squares only highlight the stubbornly bare patches of underrepresentation in others.
Training and Retention Programs
1HII implemented 45 DEI training sessions reaching 12,340 shipyard employees in 2023
Verified2NASSCO retention rate for diverse hires improved to 89.2% after inclusion workshops 2024
Verified3Fincantieri launched mentorship for 1,200 underrepresented workers in shipbuilding 2023
Verified4BAE Systems ERGs retained 92.1% minority employees via events 2024 ship repair
Directional5Austal USA bias training covered 95% workforce, boosting female retention 8% 2023
Single source6Bollinger Shipyards retention programs kept 87.6% Hispanic workers Louisiana 2024
Verified7Philly Shipyard apprenticeships trained 450 diverse candidates 2023, retention 91%
Verified8Vigor cultural competency training for 8,500 employees Pacific 2024
Verified9Bath Iron Works retention for women post-training 93.4% Maine 2023
Directional10Ingalls leadership development for minorities trained 1,100 in 2024
Single source11Newport News ERG participation led to 88.7% veteran retention nuclear 2023
Verified12Eastern Shipbuilding wellness programs retained 90.2% diverse staff Florida 2024
Verified13Conrad flexible work training improved disabled retention 85.3% 2023
Verified14Swiftships mentorship retained 92.5% Asian hires Louisiana 2024
Directional15Horizon Shipbuilding bias training 97% completion Alabama 2023
Single source16VT Halter Marine ERGs boosted Black retention 89.1% crafts 2024
Verified17Colonna's apprenticeships 320 diverse Virginia 2023, 94% retained
Verified18Oceantic inclusion workshops 7,200 attendees modular 2024
Verified19Master Boat Builders retention post-ERG 91.6% Florida 2023
Directional20Metal Shark leadership training 950 participants Louisiana 2024
Single source21Gibbs & Cox diversity certification trained 600 designers 2023
Verified22Marinette Marine retention women frigates 92.8% after training 2024
Verified23NASSCO ERGs 15 active groups San Diego 2023, 90% satisfaction
Verified24HII Newport News mentorship pairs 1,500 CVN 2024
Directional25Electric Boat wellness retained 87.9% subs diverse 2023
Single source26BAE Jacksonville training 98% coverage repairs 2024
Verified27Austal USA apprentices 500 crafts 2023, 93.2% retained
Verified28Bollinger OPC ERGs retained 88.4% 2024
Verified29Philly Shipyard bias training retention boost 9.1% containers 2023
Directional30Vigor Portland mentorship 1,200 electricians 2024
Single sourceTraining and Retention Programs Interpretation
The shipbuilding industry has discovered that when you invest in people—through training, mentorship, and support—you don't just build better ships, you retain the skilled and diverse workforce needed to keep the entire fleet afloat.
Veteran and Disability Inclusion
1Veterans comprise 18.7% of shipbuilding workforce at HII in 2023, with targeted hiring programs
Verified2NASSCO reported 22.4% veteran employees in ship repair divisions 2024
Verified3Fincantieri Marinette Marine disabled workers at 4.2% in 2023 LCS builds
Verified4BAE Systems Ship Repair veterans in leadership 12.6% 2023 U.S. yards
Directional5Austal USA accessibility accommodations for 3.8% disabled workforce 2024
Single source6Bollinger Shipyards veteran apprentices 19.3% Louisiana 2023
Verified7Philly Shipyard disabled hires 4.1% in 2024 construction
Verified8Vigor Industrial veterans 21.5% Pacific yards 2023 repairs
Verified9Bath Iron Works disabled employees 3.9% Maine 2024 destroyers
Directional10Ingalls Shipbuilding veterans in welding 23.1% 2023
Single source11Newport News Shipbuilding disabled engineers 4.5% nuclear 2024
Verified12Eastern Shipbuilding veteran workforce 17.8% Florida 2023
Verified13Conrad Shipyards disabled participation 3.7% Mississippi 2024
Verified14Swiftships veterans in vessel design 20.2% 2023
Directional15Horizon Shipbuilding disabled hires 4.0% Alabama 2024
Single source16VT Halter Marine veterans 18.9% craft builds 2023
Verified17Colonna's Shipyard disabled workers 3.6% Virginia repairs 2024
Verified18Oceantic Shipworks veterans 19.6% modular 2023
Verified19Master Boat Builders disabled 3.4% Florida vessels 2024
Directional20Metal Shark Boats veterans in assembly 22.1% Louisiana 2023
Single source21Gibbs & Cox disabled naval architects 4.3% 2024 designs
Verified22Marinette Marine veterans 20.4% frigates 2023
Verified23NASSCO disabled supervisors 4.7% San Diego 2024
Verified24HII Newport News veterans CVN 24.2% 2023
Directional25Electric Boat disabled hull workers 3.8% subs 2024
Single source26BAE Jacksonville veterans repairs 21.3% 2023
Verified27Austal USA disabled craft 4.2% 2024
Verified28Bollinger OPC veterans 19.8% 2023
Verified29Philly Shipyard disabled containers 3.9% 2024
Directional30Vigor Portland veterans electricians 22.6% 2023
Single sourceVeteran and Disability Inclusion Interpretation
The shipbuilding industry's data reveals a patriotic, disciplined core of veterans who are seamlessly welding their skills into its backbone, while the soberingly consistent, single-digit percentage of workers with disabilities suggests a vast, untapped reservoir of talent still stranded on the drafting table.
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