A UK workforce report by EngineeringUK has been published and reveals around a fifth (19.2%) of the UK workforce (both employed and self-employed) were working in an engineering and technology occupation in 2023.
A further 10.2% were working in the industry but not in an engineering or technology occupation, which might include, for example, those working in HR at an engineering or technology company.
The report also found people working in engineering and technology occupations were significantly more likely to earn more compared to the average across all other occupations combined.
The data, using the Office of National Statistics’ (ONS’) latest 2023 Labour Force Survey (LFS) and our ‘engineering footprint’[1], follows on from our Women in Engineering report published earlier in the year. This report provides the latest figures for those working in engineering and technology roles. It also looks at the composition of the engineering workforce, including breakdown by characteristics including age, gender and ethnicity. Employment by region, industry and occupation are also analysed.
Head of Research at EngineeringUK, Becca Gooch said, “Our analysis also found marked gender differences in the popularity of some engineering and technology occupations. Roles like ‘IT managers’, ‘quality assurance and regulatory professionals’, and ‘food and drink process operatives’ were significantly more common among women working in engineering and tech, while ‘electricians and electrical fitters’, ‘construction and building trades’, and ‘carpenters and joiners’ were more common among men.”
Women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering and technology occupations. Worryingly, the percentage of women dropped from 16.5% in 2022 to 15.7% in 2023, representing a fall of approximately 38,000 women.
Key findings
- There are approximately 6.3 million people working in engineering and technology occupations in the UK, representing nearly one fifth (19.2%) of the workforce
- People working across engineering and technology earn more on average than other occupations, at £39,163 gross pay
- The number of women working in engineering and tech has dropped from 16.5% of the 2022 workforce to 15.7% of the 2023 workforce
- Minority ethnic groups are underrepresented in engineering and technology occupations at 12.4%, compared to 16.0% amongst all other occupations
- 18.3% of women working in engineering and technology were from a minority ethnic group compared to only 11.4% of men
- Fewer people working in engineering and technology occupations reported they had a disability consistent with the Equality Act (13.6%) compared to all other occupations combined (18.0%)
- 12.9% of the UK workforce were working in engineering and technology roles in the engineering industry (either employed or self-employed) while a further 6.2% were working in these jobs in other industries.
[1] Together, EngineeringUK, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Council established an agreed list of Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes which encompasses all aspects of engineering, known as the ‘engineering footprint’. To find out more, click here.