Nov 18, 2019
The latest Skills Survey from The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) looks at the challenges facing engineering and technology employers across the UK.
Key survey findings include:
- Almost 1 in 3 employers (31%) reported an increase in their workforce over the last 3 years, though the rate of growth has slowed.
- 81% agree that businesses have a responsibility to support the transition from education and training into the workplace, but currently only 23% of all employers are going into schools or careers events to help young people understand and value engineering careers.
- Most companies that are liable to pay the Apprenticeship Levy have reported that they are using it, with nearly half of these reporting that it is easy to use (48%). 32% of companies surveyed have engineering or technical apprentices in place, with an average of between two and three apprentices at every participating company.
- 12% of businesses are taking or have taken any action to increase the diversity of their workforces in terms of ethnicity, LGBT+ status and disability, whilst the proportion of women within the engineering and technical workforce remains at 11%.
- Overall, 60% of employers report recruitment of staff with the right skills the biggest anticipated barrier to achieving their business objectives over the next 3 years.
The report makes several recommendations, including:
- A call for deeper engagement between employers and the education system to produce a talent pipeline that can sustain a thriving UK economy.
- More businesses to provide more quality work experience opportunities for young people.
In its thirteenth year, this report is based on a series of comprehensive telephone interviews with 701 UK engineering and technology employers earlier in the year. The last skills survey with comparative data was carried out in 2017.
You can read the full IET Skills and Demand in Industry 2019 Survey and recommendations here.
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