The engineering sector, while diverse, grapples with persisting diversity and inclusivity challenges, particularly in the representation of women within traditionally classified engineering roles. Nevertheless, promising strides are being made towards improved gender equality, as evidenced by the upward trajectory of female participation. In 2021, the UK witnessed a notable increase, with 936,000 women (16.5%) employed in engineering roles, as opposed to 562,000 (10.5%) in 2010. Now in 2024 will this trend increase further, hopefully the next report from Engineering UK, will shed some insights into this, but for now here is the previous report and data to look into.
Unveiling Insights from the ‘Women in Engineering’ Report Drawing from the Labour Force Survey, Engineering UK produced a comprehensive 'Women in Engineering' report outlining the trends in the engineering workforce spanning 2010 to 2021. Here's an overview of the key findings from the report.
The complete report can be accessed here.
Defining 'Engineering' Roles to establish a common understanding, the report aligns with the definitions put forth by Engineering UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Engineering Council. It identifies roles that meet the criteria of 'core' or 'related' engineering. 'Core' positions demand consistent application of engineering knowledge and skills, while 'related' roles encompass a blend of engineering skills with other competencies.
Where are Female Engineers Employed?
The analysis unveiled that women tend to gravitate towards 'related' engineering roles, rather than 'core' engineering positions. This pattern also exhibits variation across specific engineering sectors. Intriguingly, female engineers are more frequently found in non-engineering sector roles (24%), surpassing their presence in engineering sector roles (12.5%) by almost 50% (with male engineers constituting the remaining 63.5%).
Roles within the 'Culture, Media and Sports' domain emerged with the highest percentage of women engaged in engineering roles, numbering around 30,000. Meanwhile, Science, Engineering and Technology Associate Professionals observed an increase from 18.8% to 28.1%. Likewise, Science, Research, Engineering and Technology Professionals witnessed a rise of 21.1%.
However, these figures warrant a nuanced understanding, as the increase in women's employment was concurrent with a decrease in male participation within the sector. For instance, while female electronic engineers saw a rise of 2,500, male electronic engineers faced a decline of 15,000.
A Positive Shift with Room to Grow the report unequivocally underscores a positive trajectory, signifying the growing presence of women in the engineering sector, particularly in non-traditional roles. Yet, as a collective effort involving companies, employers, and employees, there's a continued need to champion, celebrate, and advocate for women's roles within the engineering sector. Encouragement should be a driving force to inspire and bolster the recruitment and retention of the next generation of female engineers across both 'core' and 'related' roles and within leadership realms.