Women now comprise over 17% of the U.S. shipbuilding workforce, with some yards reporting female representation above 25% in engineering. This article details the uneven progress across gender, racial, and leadership metrics in the industry.
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
- Women in shipyard executive leadership at HII reached 14.2% in 2023
- In 2023, Black or African American workers made up 12.6% of U.S. shipbuilding workforce, with HII at 14.2%
- HII implemented 45 DEI training sessions reaching 12,340 shipyard employees in 2023
- Veterans comprise 18.7% of shipbuilding workforce at HII in 2023, with targeted hiring programs
Diversity and inclusion remain uneven in shipbuilding, but measurable progress is possible with targeted action and accountability.
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01 · Category
Gender Diversity30 stats
01
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
02
General Dynamics NASSCO achieved 19.8% women in engineering roles in shipbuilding by Q4 2023, up 4.2% from 2021
03
Fincantieri Marinette Marine had 15.6% female welders in 2024 shipbuilding projects, exceeding industry average by 3%
04
BAE Systems Ship Repair reported 12.3% women in supervisory positions across U.S. shipyards in 2022
05
Austal USA shipbuilding facility in Mobile saw women at 21.1% of new hires in 2023, focusing on hull fabrication
06
Bollinger Shipyards Louisiana yards had 14.7% female participation in apprenticeship programs for shipbuilding in 2024
07
Philly Shipyard recorded 18.9% women in design and engineering teams for LNG carriers in 2023
08
Vigor Industrial shipyards in Pacific Northwest reported 16.2% female workforce in 2023, with gains in pipefitting roles
09
Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics) had 20.5% women in combat systems integration for destroyers in 2024
10
Ingalls Shipbuilding women in outfitting departments reached 23.4% in 2023, highest in sector
11
Newport News Shipbuilding female engineers grew to 25.1% in nuclear propulsion projects by 2023
12
Eastern Shipbuilding Group reported 13.8% women in steel fabrication crews in 2024
13
Conrad Shipyards had 11.2% female hires in vessel construction in 2023 Mississippi Gulf Coast operations
14
Swiftships USA shipbuilding in Louisiana saw 17.6% women in quality assurance roles 2023
15
Horizon Shipbuilding women represented 19.3% of total shipyard employees in 2024 Alabama
16
VT Halter Marine (now part of Bollinger) had 15.9% females in combatant craft building 2023
17
Colonna's Shipyard Virginia reported 14.1% women in repair and maintenance shipbuilding teams 2024
18
Oceantic Shipworks women in modular construction reached 16.7% in 2023 projects
19
Master Boat Builders Florida shipyards had 12.8% female workforce in 2024 aluminum vessel builds
20
Metal Shark Boats Louisiana reported 18.2% women in patrol boat assembly 2023
21
Gibbs & Cox design firm supporting shipbuilding had 24.6% female naval architects in 2023
22
Marinette Marine women in LCS frigate construction hit 21.4% in 2024
23
NASSCO San Diego shipyard females in electrical trades 20.1% 2023
24
Huntington Ingalls Newport News women in CVN carrier programs 26.3% 2023
25
General Dynamics Electric Boat (related shipbuilding) 19.7% women in submarine hull work 2024
26
BAE Systems Jacksonville women in ship repair 17.9% 2023
27
Austal USA women in high-speed craft assembly 22.5% 2024
28
Bollinger Shipyards women in OPC cutter builds 16.4% 2023
29
Philly Shipyard females in container ship outfitting 18.7% 2024
30
Vigor Portland shipyard women in crane operations 15.3% 2023
Interpretation
Gender 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.
02 · Category
Leadership and Promotion Equity30 stats
01
Women in shipyard executive leadership at HII reached 14.2% in 2023
02
NASSCO minority promotions to manager level 26.7% in 2024 shipbuilding
03
Fincantieri U.S. VP roles diverse hires 18.5% 2023
04
BAE Systems directors from underrepresented groups 11.9% ship repair 2024
05
Austal USA female promotions to supervisor 16.8% 2023 Mobile
06
Bollinger Shipyards Black leaders 13.4% Louisiana 2024
07
Philly Shipyard Hispanic executives 22.1% 2023 hires
08
Vigor senior managers women 15.7% Pacific 2024
09
Bath Iron Works diverse promotions 25.3% Maine destroyers 2023
10
Ingalls Shipbuilding female VPs 17.6% 2024
11
Newport News minority directors 24.8% nuclear 2023
12
Eastern Shipbuilding veteran leaders 12.1% Florida 2024
13
Conrad Shipyards women supervisors 14.9% Mississippi 2023
14
Swiftships Asian managers 9.4% Louisiana 2024
15
Horizon Shipbuilding Hispanic promotions 23.2% Alabama 2023
16
VT Halter Marine disabled leaders 3.2% 2024 crafts
17
Colonna's female directors 13.8% Virginia 2023
18
Oceantic minority VPs 21.5% modular 2024
19
Master Boat Builders Black supervisors 12.7% Florida 2023
20
Metal Shark women leaders 16.3% Louisiana 2024
21
Gibbs & Cox diverse promotions 27.1% designs 2023
22
Marinette Marine Hispanic directors 24.6% frigates 2024
23
NASSCO female managers 18.9% San Diego 2023
24
HII Newport News veteran VPs 14.7% CVN 2024
25
Electric Boat minority supervisors 26.2% subs 2023
26
BAE Jacksonville women leaders 15.4% repairs 2024
27
Austal USA Black directors 13.9% crafts 2023
28
Bollinger OPC female promotions 17.2% 2024
29
Philly Shipyard Asian VPs 10.3% containers 2023
30
Vigor Portland disabled managers 3.5% 2024
Interpretation
Leadership 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.
03 · Category
Racial and Ethnic Diversity29 stats
01
In 2023, Black or African American workers made up 12.6% of U.S. shipbuilding workforce, with HII at 14.2%
02
Hispanic or Latino employees at NASSCO reached 28.4% in 2023 San Diego shipyard operations
03
Asian American representation in shipbuilding engineering at Fincantieri was 7.3% in 2024
04
Native American workers at Bath Iron Works comprised 1.8% of total workforce in 2023 Maine yard
05
At Austal USA, Black employees in production roles were 15.1% in 2023 Mobile facility
06
Bollinger Shipyards reported 22.7% Hispanic workforce in Louisiana shipbuilding in 2024
07
Philly Shipyard Asian hires increased to 8.9% in 2023 vessel construction teams
08
Vigor Shipyards Pacific Islander employees at 2.4% in 2023 repair projects
09
Ingalls Shipbuilding Black welders at 16.5% in 2024 destroyer builds
10
Newport News Shipbuilding Hispanic engineers 25.6% in 2023 nuclear programs
11
Eastern Shipbuilding Native Hawaiian workers 1.2% in Florida yards 2024
12
Conrad Shipyards Black representation 13.4% in Mississippi 2023 hires
13
Swiftships Asian American in design 9.1% 2024 Louisiana
14
Horizon Shipbuilding Hispanic workforce 27.8% Alabama 2023
15
VT Halter Marine Black employees 14.7% in craft assembly 2023
16
Colonna's Shipyard multiracial workers 4.3% Virginia 2024
17
Oceantic Shipworks Hispanic in modular builds 26.2% 2023
18
Master Boat Builders Native American 1.9% Florida 2024
19
Metal Shark Boats Black hires 17.2% Louisiana 2023 patrol boats
20
Gibbs & Cox Asian naval architects 11.5% 2024 ship designs
21
Marinette Marine Hispanic welders 29.1% LCS frigates 2023
22
NASSCO Black supervisors 13.8% San Diego 2024
23
HII Newport News Asian engineers 10.2% CVN 2023
24
Electric Boat Hispanic hull fabricators 24.5% subs 2024
25
BAE Jacksonville Native American 1.5% repairs 2023
26
Austal USA multiracial 5.1% craft assembly 2024
27
Bollinger OPC Black workforce 15.9% 2023
28
Philly Shipyard Pacific Islander 2.1% 2024 containers
29
Vigor Portland Hispanic electricians 28.3% 2023
Interpretation
Racial 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Training and Retention Programs30 stats
01
HII implemented 45 DEI training sessions reaching 12,340 shipyard employees in 2023
02
NASSCO retention rate for diverse hires improved to 89.2% after inclusion workshops 2024
03
Fincantieri launched mentorship for 1,200 underrepresented workers in shipbuilding 2023
04
BAE Systems ERGs retained 92.1% minority employees via events 2024 ship repair
05
Austal USA bias training covered 95% workforce, boosting female retention 8% 2023
06
Bollinger Shipyards retention programs kept 87.6% Hispanic workers Louisiana 2024
07
Philly Shipyard apprenticeships trained 450 diverse candidates 2023, retention 91%
08
Vigor cultural competency training for 8,500 employees Pacific 2024
09
Bath Iron Works retention for women post-training 93.4% Maine 2023
10
Ingalls leadership development for minorities trained 1,100 in 2024
11
Newport News ERG participation led to 88.7% veteran retention nuclear 2023
12
Eastern Shipbuilding wellness programs retained 90.2% diverse staff Florida 2024
13
Conrad flexible work training improved disabled retention 85.3% 2023
14
Swiftships mentorship retained 92.5% Asian hires Louisiana 2024
15
Horizon Shipbuilding bias training 97% completion Alabama 2023
16
VT Halter Marine ERGs boosted Black retention 89.1% crafts 2024
17
Colonna's apprenticeships 320 diverse Virginia 2023, 94% retained
18
Oceantic inclusion workshops 7,200 attendees modular 2024
19
Master Boat Builders retention post-ERG 91.6% Florida 2023
20
Metal Shark leadership training 950 participants Louisiana 2024
21
Gibbs & Cox diversity certification trained 600 designers 2023
22
Marinette Marine retention women frigates 92.8% after training 2024
23
NASSCO ERGs 15 active groups San Diego 2023, 90% satisfaction
24
HII Newport News mentorship pairs 1,500 CVN 2024
25
Electric Boat wellness retained 87.9% subs diverse 2023
26
BAE Jacksonville training 98% coverage repairs 2024
27
Austal USA apprentices 500 crafts 2023, 93.2% retained
28
Bollinger OPC ERGs retained 88.4% 2024
29
Philly Shipyard bias training retention boost 9.1% containers 2023
30
Vigor Portland mentorship 1,200 electricians 2024
Interpretation
Training 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.
05 · Category
Veteran and Disability Inclusion30 stats
01
Veterans comprise 18.7% of shipbuilding workforce at HII in 2023, with targeted hiring programs
02
NASSCO reported 22.4% veteran employees in ship repair divisions 2024
03
Fincantieri Marinette Marine disabled workers at 4.2% in 2023 LCS builds
04
BAE Systems Ship Repair veterans in leadership 12.6% 2023 U.S. yards
05
Austal USA accessibility accommodations for 3.8% disabled workforce 2024
06
Bollinger Shipyards veteran apprentices 19.3% Louisiana 2023
07
Philly Shipyard disabled hires 4.1% in 2024 construction
08
Vigor Industrial veterans 21.5% Pacific yards 2023 repairs
09
Bath Iron Works disabled employees 3.9% Maine 2024 destroyers
10
Ingalls Shipbuilding veterans in welding 23.1% 2023
11
Newport News Shipbuilding disabled engineers 4.5% nuclear 2024
12
Eastern Shipbuilding veteran workforce 17.8% Florida 2023
13
Conrad Shipyards disabled participation 3.7% Mississippi 2024
14
Swiftships veterans in vessel design 20.2% 2023
15
Horizon Shipbuilding disabled hires 4.0% Alabama 2024
16
VT Halter Marine veterans 18.9% craft builds 2023
17
Colonna's Shipyard disabled workers 3.6% Virginia repairs 2024
18
Oceantic Shipworks veterans 19.6% modular 2023
19
Master Boat Builders disabled 3.4% Florida vessels 2024
20
Metal Shark Boats veterans in assembly 22.1% Louisiana 2023
21
Gibbs & Cox disabled naval architects 4.3% 2024 designs
22
Marinette Marine veterans 20.4% frigates 2023
23
NASSCO disabled supervisors 4.7% San Diego 2024
24
HII Newport News veterans CVN 24.2% 2023
25
Electric Boat disabled hull workers 3.8% subs 2024
26
BAE Jacksonville veterans repairs 21.3% 2023
27
Austal USA disabled craft 4.2% 2024
28
Bollinger OPC veterans 19.8% 2023
29
Philly Shipyard disabled containers 3.9% 2024
30
Vigor Portland veterans electricians 22.6% 2023
Interpretation
Veteran 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Shipbuilding Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-shipbuilding-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Shipbuilding Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-shipbuilding-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Shipbuilding Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-shipbuilding-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level