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- Engineering is a critical industry and employs 6.3 million people in UK (=19% of all jobs) Women in engineering and technology
- Engineering and technology jobs predicted to grow in all UK regions between now and 2030 faster than other occupations Engineering skills needs – now and into the future
- Net zero ambitions and growth of green jobs increasing demand further in the last 5 years Engineering skills needs – now and into the future
- +48% Job adverts mentioning ‘green skills
- +55% Job adverts for ‘green engineering jobs’
- Up to 750k new jobs needed by 2030 to support the transition to net zero A net zero workforce (Climate Change Committee)
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- Women make up 15.7% of the engineering and technology workforce in the UK Women in engineering and technology
- Women make up 48% of other occupations Women in engineering and technology
- People from minority ethnic groups make up 12% of the engineering and technology workforce in the UK Engineering and technology workforce
- People from minority ethnic groups make up 16% of other occupations Engineering and technology workforce
- Disabled people make up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce in the UK Engineering and technology workforce
- Disabled people make up 18% of other occupations Engineering and technology workforce
- People from lower socio-economic backgrounds make up 24% the engineering and technology workforce in the UK Engineering and technology workforce
- People from lower socio-economic backgrounds make up 26% of other occupations Engineering and technology workforce
- Women/girls make up 9% of engineering T Levels students T Levels results 2024
- Women/girls make up 17% of engineering apprentices
- Women/girls make up 18% of undergraduates taking engineering degrees Engineering in higher education
- Women/girls make up 23% of physics A level students
- Women/girls make up 37% of maths A level students
- Women/girls make up 48.5% of physics GCSE students
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- GSCE uptake over the page 9 years Trends in GCSE entries and attainment (FFT Education Datalab)
- Maths, biology, chemistry, physics remain in top 10 most popular A levels A level results 2024
- Girls make up half of those taking GCSE maths and physics, but this drops at A level: 37% maths, 23% physics GCSE results 2024 and From A levels to engineering
- There is also a shortage of STEM teachers in schools, particularly in deprived areas State of engineering report 2020 (archived)
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- Interest in schools science has declined since 2019 and a gender gap has opened up Science Education Tracker 2023
- Interest among years 7 to 9 has declined from 76% to 71% Science Education Tracker 2023
- For girls the decline is from 75% to 65% Science Education Tracker 2023
- 36% of girls say science is not for them Science Education Tracker 2023
- Only 12% of girls say being an engineer fits well with who they are Science Education Tracker 2023
- Just 16% of girls think engineering is suitable from them Science Education Tracker 2023
- Only 29% of girls are interested in an engineering career compared to 63% of boys. 23% and 52% for tech Science Education Tracker 2023
- Schools students are doing less practical science Science Education Tracker 2023
- Practical science is the main motivator for young people studying science for 55% of years 7 to 9 Science Education Tracker 2023
- Only 26% of GCSE students do hands-on practical work at least once a fortnight, down from 44% in 2016 Science Education Tracker 2023
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- Women make up 17% of engineering apprentices Apprenticeship pathways into engineering 2023/24
- Women make up 52% of apprentices across all subjects and sectors Apprenticeship pathways into engineering 2023/24
- Minority ethnic groups make up 14% of engineering apprenticeships Apprenticeship pathways into engineering 2023/24
- Minority ethnic groups make up 16% of apprenticeships across all subjects and sectors Apprenticeship pathways into engineering 2023/24
- Not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, despite positive uptick in 2021 Apprenticeship pathways into engineering 2023/24
- 97.1K engineering apprenticeships started in 2023/24
- Down 13% since 2016/17
- Down 6% since 2018/19
- Only 37% of young people know what T Levels are Anyone for T? Awareness of T Levels in England
- Estimated shortfall of 43,500 industry placements Anyone for T? Awareness of T Levels in England
- Only 28% of employers know what T Levels are and understand what they involve Anyone for T? Awareness of T Levels in England
- 38,615 engineering and tech undergraduates Engineering in higher education
- 5th most popular subject in UK 6% of all undergraduate entries
- Engineering in higher education
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- 36% of school students say they know a fair amount about what engineers do - 32% for tech Science Education Tracker 2023
- Just 16% of girls think engineering is suitable for them Science Education Tracker 2023
- 46% of school students are interested in an engineering career - 38% for tech Science Education Tracker 2023
- 35% of school students are interested in a career that will help reduce the impact of climate change Science Education Tracker 2023
- 64% of school students are interested in climate change issues Science Education Tracker 2023
- Only 12% of young people attended a careers event with an employer in past 12 months Securing the future: STEM careers provision in schools and colleges in England (archived)
- Young people who attended a careers event with an employer in the past 12 months were twice as likely to know what engineers and scientists do at work Securing the future: STEM careers provision in schools and colleges in England (archived)
- Young people who attended a careers event with an employer in the past 12 months were almost 3 times as likely to be interested in an engineering career Securing the future: STEM careers provision in schools and colleges in England (archived)
- School students who attended one or more STEM careers activity are 3.5 times more likely to know what people working in engineering do Our careers, our future (archived)
- School students who attended one or more STEM careers activity are 3.4 times more likely to consider a career in engineering Our careers, our future (archived)
