Engineering and tech sectors lack diversity

EngineeringUK releases workforce data showing 6.4mln employed in the sectors amid diversity deficit.

The engineering and technology sector accounts for around a fifth of the UK workforce (19.3%), according to EngineeringUK's latest briefing.

The data shows a lack of diversity in these roles when compared to other occupations.

Women make up 16.9% of the workforce, compared to 56% in other occupations.

Head of Research at EngineeringUK, Becca Gooch, summarises this, ‘Back in 2010, women made up around 10% of the workforce, so 16.9% is certainly an increase, but over 15 years, this is slow progress for a sector growing faster than any other between now and 2030.’

She highlighted STEM programmes aimed at the youth, like The Big Bang, Energy Quest and Climate School Programme, will help balance this.

These events ‘help bring to life real-world engineering and tech careers for young people. But we’d like the sector, which has a skills and labour shortage, to do much, much more to recruit and retain talented women.’ She says.

UK minority and ethnic groups also fit this trend, making up 14% of the workforce, compared to 18% in other occupations. Disabled people make up 14% of the workforce in comparison to 19% across all other occupations.