Research shows 19.2% employed in engineering and technology occupations
Our latest UK workforce report shows that almost a fifth of the workforce is employed in engineering and tech roles.
A further 10.2% were working in the industry but not in an engineering or technology occupation, which might include, for example, those working in HR at an engineering or technology company.
The report also found people working in engineering and technology occupations – which employs 6.3 million people in the UK, were significantly more likely to earn more compared to the average across all other occupations combined.
The data, using the Office of National Statistics’ (ONS’) latest 2023 Labour Force Survey (LFS) and our ‘engineering footprint’1, follows on from our Women in Engineering report published earlier in the year. This report provides the latest figures for those working in engineering and technology roles. It also looks at the composition of the engineering workforce, including breakdown by characteristics including age, gender and ethnicity. Employment by region, industry and occupation are also analysed.
Head of Research at EngineeringUK, Becca Gooch said, “Our analysis also found marked gender differences in the popularity of some engineering and technology occupations. Roles like ‘IT managers’, ‘quality assurance and regulatory professionals’, and ‘food and drink process operatives’ were significantly more common among women working in engineering and tech, while ‘electricians and electrical fitters’, ‘construction and building trades’, and ‘carpenters and joiners’ were more common among men.”
Our analysis also found marked gender differences in the popularity of some engineering and technology occupations. Roles like ‘IT managers’, ‘quality assurance and regulatory professionals’, and ‘food and drink process operatives’ were significantly more common among women working in engineering and tech, while ‘electricians and electrical fitters’, ‘construction and building trades’, and ‘carpenters and joiners’ were more common among men.
— Head of Research at EngineeringUK, Becca Gooch
Women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering and technology occupations. Worryingly, the percentage of women dropped from 16.5% in 2022 to 15.7% in 2023, representing a fall of approximately 38,000 women.
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