A new report published today by the Social Market Foundation and EDF estimates that a total of 640,000 STEM jobs will need to be filled over the next six years, with many of these jobs being new roles created within emerging industries.
Commenting, Stephanie Fernandes from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), said: “This report highlights the huge career opportunities that exist within UK engineering and technology today, but also the significant challenge the country faces to fill these jobs.
“In the wake of the Brexit vote and the Government’s ambitious and welcome commitment to invest in science and innovation to boost the UK’s productivity, there has never been a more important time to tackle the fundamental engineering skills gaps and shortages in the UK head on.
“It is also a great time to be an engineer: demand far outstrips supply, salaries are rising and there are fantastic career prospects for tomorrow’s engineers. But we cannot rely on these factors to attract enough engineers to address the growing skills shortage in the UK.
“We must also take action to ensure a pipeline of future engineering talent, for example by promoting stronger collaboration between employers and the educational system to provide work experience for those in education and training, by encouraging more women and returners into engineering – and by looking at how best to upskill the existing engineering workforce to meet the fast-changing needs of modern engineering and technology.
“We also need further clarity from the Government in their proposed Industrial Strategy on how the UK will be able to recruit the anticipated shortfall of engineers needed over the next decade as we move closer to exiting the EU.” The IET is calling on employers, educators and the Government to ensure that opportunities are in place to develop and support the skills needed for the proposed industrial strategy.”
