Just 6% of engineers are women
31 Jul 2014
On average just 6% of engineers in the UK are female, with the highest proportions occuring in the energy and pharmaceuticals sectors, according to a new survey.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) annual Skills & Demand in Industry survey interviewed 400 engineering and IT companies on their recruitment plans, skills and women in the workforce. The results showed that none of the ten sectors surveyed had a higher average result than 8% of women in their workforce, with an overall average of just 6%.
It’s disappointing to see that so many employers are taking no real action to improve diversity
IET chief executive Nigel Fine
The sectors that did hit the 8% mark were Energy, Electronics, and Pharma & Health Technologies.
Within Pharma & Health Technologies’ 8% average for all engineering staff, the average proportion of engineering technicians that were female was 5%, and the average proportion of female engineers 6%.
Meanwhile in the energy sector the average proportion of female technicians was just 2%, with female engineers again scoring an average of 6%.
The engineering sector with the worst overall average number of females in its workforce was the communications sector, scoring just 3%.
Despite this poor record, the survey suggests that 43% of employers in all sectors are not taking any specific action to improve workplace diversity.
“Promoting engineering to women is particularly important given how few currently work as engineers, so it’s disappointing to see that so many employers are taking no real action to improve diversity,” said IET chief executive Nigel Fine.
“They need to take urgent steps to improve recruitment and retention of women, for example by promoting flexible and part time working, together with planned routes of progression that can accommodate career breaks. There also needs to be deeper engagement between employers and the education system to produce a talent pipeline that can sustain a thriving UK economy.”
Other findings of the IET survey include:
- 59% of companies indicated concerns that a shortage of engineers would be a threat to their businesses
- 53% of employers believe they should get more involved with schools, colleges and universities to help change the perception of engineering among young people
- 44% of engineering, IT and technical recruits do not meet the employer’s expected levels of skills
- 52% of organisations anticipate employing more apprentices in 4 to 5 years’ time
