Overview
Given recent rapid labour market developments and changing workforce needs, we commissioned labour market analysts Lightcast to explore engineering and technology skills needs. They also looked at how these have changed across the engineering sector in recent years.
The resulting report, Engineering skills needs – now and into the future provides detailed insights into the engineering and technology sector.
This report includes skills snapshots for each of the 13 engineering thematic grouping. Each snapshot includes the specialist and software skills most sought after by recruiting employers as well as the top occupations employers have been recruiting for over the past year.
This snapshot covers design and development.
Skills snapshot for design and development
Who this is for
- Professional Engineering Institutions
- Employers
- Careers leads
- Researchers
- Policymakers
Key findings
- Number of jobs in 2021: 242,300
- Average salary: £41,152
- Top occupations: Design and development engineers; product, clothing and related designers; and research and development managers
- Top specialist skills: Product design, new product development, and prototyping
- Top software skills: AutoCAD, SolidWords (CAD), and Figma (design software)
Given the soaring demand for engineers across all sectors, it’s essential that the UK has a robust plan and funding in place to train the future workforce, bringing more young people from all backgrounds into engineering and technology, alongside reskilling the current workforce.With the growth in green skills, and the central role engineers and technicians play in transitioning to a green economy and addressing climate change, ensuring that the sector has the skilled workforce needed to thrive is more urgent than ever.— Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive, EngineeringUK
