One in five UK engineers to quit by 2026 warns report

Launching Engineering Today: the Supply and Demand for Engineers in the UK, board chief executive Chris Claydon said: “This year the Government has recognised the significance of attracting more young people into careers in engineering and this report offers some interesting discussion points and insights about the industry during the Year of Engineering.”

The findings confirm that the industry remains highly competitive as an employer and has made progress in extending recruitment to a more diverse population.

It’s vital we understand our workforce, the skills they have and the training they require to compete both domestically and internationally

Chris Claydon, chief executive, ECITB

The report reveals:

• Average earnings in 2016 were £42,000 – nearly 50% higher than the average for all UK earnings
• Engineering graduates earn £5k more on average than other graduates
• More than 90% of engineering apprentices sustained employment, compared to 75% for all apprentices
• The proportion of women engineers has nearly doubled between 2009 and 2016

However:

• More than 91,000 engineers will retire or be close to retiring in 2026
• The number of engineering graduates going into the profession (under 39%) is the lowest since 2012
• Overall women comprised just 9% of engineers in 2016
• Only 10% of engineers are from black and other minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds
• BAME graduates have lower salaries and employment prospects on average

Commented Claydon: “We’re moving to a more technological future, with the pace of change accelerating all the time. That’s why it’s vital we understand our workforce, the skills they have and the training they require to compete both domestically and internationally.”

A download of the ECITB report is available here.