Women remain hard to count in automotive recycling

Federal labor data shows women remain a small share of automotive repair jobs, but no national category cleanly measures their role in automotive recycling. Industry leaders say that gap makes it harder to track ownership, leadership and workforce progress in a sector central to the vehicle supply chain.

Why it matters: - Automotive recycling is tied to repair affordability, reuse, environmental stewardship and the circular economy. - A missing national benchmark makes it harder for industry groups, workforce organizations, policymakers and business leaders to measure progress for women in ownership and leadership. - The measurement gap also limits visibility for younger women deciding whether automotive recycling is a viable career or business path.

What happened: - Federal labor data showed women made up 18.2% of employment in automotive repair and maintenance in April 2026. - Women accounted for 15.9% of employment in automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance in April 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. - The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate gender-specific employment category for automotive recycling. - Automotive recycling activity can be classified differently depending on whether a business dismantles vehicles for used parts or recyclable scrap. - Natasha Broxton, founder and CEO of Select Auto Parts & Sales in Milwaukee, said the visibility problem reflects what she has seen over 14 years in the industry. - Broxton said she is often the only woman and only Black woman in the room when she enters industry gatherings. - Broxton has run Select Auto Parts & Sales in Milwaukee since 2012. - Select Auto Parts & Sales operates a 125,000-square-foot indoor automotive recycling facility that serves repair businesses and supports reuse of original equipment parts.

The details: - The Automotive Recyclers Association says its members operate more than 9,000 locations. - The association says its members employ more than 140,000 people. - The association says annual sales across its member base top $32 billion. - Automotive recyclers recover usable original equipment parts and materials from end-of-life vehicles. - Broxton said modern recyclers now manage inventory, logistics, e-commerce, environmental processing, online sales, data and technology-enabled operations. - She said the industry needs more technology, more skilled people and more creative leadership as vehicles become more complex. - Women already hold senior roles in the sector. - The Automotive Recyclers Association’s 2025-2026 leadership roster lists Emily Yancey as Secretary of its Executive Committee and Amber Kendrick, Natalie Miller and Laurie Beacham on its Board of Directors.

Between the lines: - The data gap is not just about representation. It also affects succession planning, mentorship pipelines and who gets seen as a potential owner or leader. - Broxton’s comments point to a broader industry challenge: visibility can shape who enters the field and who imagines ownership as possible. - The lack of a clear baseline makes it easier for leadership barriers to stay hidden. - Broxton argued visibility must be paired with access, including mentoring, business networks and pathways into ownership.

What's next: - Broxton said the industry needs stronger outreach to girls and women, more mentorship for women already working in the field and clearer pathways into ownership and leadership. - She said the goal should be an industry where women owning, operating and leading automotive recycling businesses is no longer unusual. - As the auto sector faces new vehicle technology, e-commerce, sustainability demands, workforce pressure and ownership transitions, measuring participation will become more important. - For interviews, keynote presentations and executive workshops with Natasha Broxton, visit speaking information.

The bottom line: - Automotive recycling cannot fully understand its workforce without better data on women in the sector, and industry leaders say that visibility is now a competitiveness issue as much as a representation issue.