Marvin OnumonuA gender pay gap of 11% or more was reported by 59% of organisations in the transport sector, according to the 2025 Women in Transport (WIT) Equity Index.
This figure is higher than the UK average, and 65% of organisations had no plan in place to address it.
The index also found women made up 27% of the workforce.
Leadership roles held by women stood at 36%, but a third of these were outside core transport functions.
Flexible working was discussed at interview by 92% of organisations, but only 21% offered 20 or more weeks of paid parental leave.
The report recommended annual pay audits and public action plans to tackle pay gaps, with executive accountability tied to progress.
It called for formal pathways for women into operational and transport-specific leadership, a sector-wide minimum of 20 weeks paid leave for primary carers, and for flexible working to be the default.
The 2026 index will aim to boost participation from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and underrepresented sub-sectors, add measures on intersectionality, ethnicity, and disability, and provide real-time benchmarking tools.
Elsie Blundell, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Women in Transport, said: “The Equity Index is an important step forward in our mission to create a more inclusive and representative transport sector.
“By measuring where we are and holding ourselves to account, we give ourselves the tools to drive real change.
“I’m proud to support this report and the role it plays in shaping a more equitable future for the industry.”
Sonya Byers, CEO at Women in Transport, said: “The 2025 Women in Transport Equity Index shows growing commitment not only to acknowledging challenges but to addressing them head-on.
“This is more than a snapshot; it’s a roadmap to action.”
Sue Terpilowski, co-founder of the Equity Index, said: “While the results show promise, they also remind us that talk is not enough.
“Diversity is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for resilience and future growth.”
Gemma Lloyd, CEO at WORK180, said: “These findings make one thing clear: while some steps forward have been taken, gender equity in transport is still stalled in the slow lane.
“Women remain significantly underrepresented in transport-specific roles and leadership, and nearly 60% of organisations report a gender pay gap above 11%—a figure that should alarm us all.
“The good news is that we’re seeing growing awareness and a shift toward flexible work and parental leave.”
Lloyd added: “But awareness without accountability won’t drive change.
“If we’re serious about building a sector that reflects the communities it serves, then bold, measurable action—backed by real leadership—must become the norm, not the exception.”
Caitlin Taylor, senior product manager at WORK180, said: “The increased participation in this year’s survey is encouraging, highlighting a growing commitment to gender equity within the transport sector.
“Moving forward, leveraging this valuable data will be key to driving meaningful change and fostering a more inclusive industry for all.”
