SEPTA Honors Women Shaping Philadelphia Transit
Women comprise 56% of SEPTA riders but only 23% of workforce, new data shows
SEPTA Marks Women's History Month
Women make up 56% of SEPTA's ridership but just 23% of its workforce, the transit agency said as it marks Women's History Month in March. The Philadelphia-area transit system released workforce data showing women hold 34% of senior management positions, though representation varies widely across job categories. Officials said the figures highlight both progress and ongoing challenges in workforce diversity.
National Recognition Since 1987
National Women's History Month was established in 1987 to recognize women's efforts toward equality across all races and genders. Women currently make up approximately 48% of the overall U.S. workforce, according to Census Bureau data. At SEPTA, the 23% overall representation falls below the national average, though the agency said it's working to increase diversity across all departments. Transit agencies nationwide face similar challenges in recruiting women to traditionally male-dominated roles.
Workforce Breakdown Shows Gaps
Among SEPTA's transit operators, 29% of bus, trolley, and subway/elevated operators are women, while 19% of Regional Rail engineers are women, officials said. The skilled trades workforce shows the starkest gender gap, with women making up just 2.6% of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, mechanics, and millwrights. Senior management positions show stronger representation at 34%, though officials didn't provide comparative data from previous years to show whether that figure is improving. The agency didn't release information about recruitment initiatives or specific goals for increasing women's representation in underrepresented categories.
Women Dominate Ridership
Women riders make up just over 56% of all SEPTA passengers, with bus ridership showing even higher female representation at 60%, according to agency data. Officials said the ridership figures underscore the importance of considering women's needs and safety concerns in transit planning and operations. The agency didn't provide details about specific programs or policies designed to address women riders' priorities.
Recognition and Service
SEPTA expressed gratitude for women employees who operate buses and trains, maintain stations, and manage budgets throughout the system. The agency also thanked women riders for their continued use of the transit system. Riders can track real-time arrivals and plan trips across SEPTA's bus, trolley, subway, and Regional Rail lines using Moovit, which provides service updates and route information for the Philadelphia transit network.
