According to new research from EngineeringUK, 16.5 per cent of individuals working in engineering are female, up from 10.5 per cent in 2010.
The proportion of women in the engineering workforce increased by 6 per cent between 2010 and 2021, according to an analysis of trends in the engineering workforce. In addition, the number of women working in engineering roles climbed from 562,000 in 2010 to 936,000 in 2021, resulting in a 5.3 million to 5.6 million growth in the engineering workforce. Surprisingly, the number of women in engineering professions increased even while the total number of individuals working in engineering declined during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Historically, women have been underrepresented in engineering, according to the survey, which shows variances by industry and sector. Women make up only 12.5 per cent of individuals working in engineering jobs in the engineering sector, compared to 24.4 per cent outside of it. This means that sectors that aren't usually connected with engineering may have a better chance of attracting female engineers.
Female representation in engineering professions has increased faster than the national average, for example, from just under 19 per cent to over 28 per cent of women in engineering roles classified as 'science, engineering, and technology associate professionals.'
Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, said: “It’s great to see an increase of women working in engineering roles, particularly for International Women’s Day, with almost 370,000 more women in those roles in 2021 compared within 2010.”
“The fact that women represent only 16.5 per cent of those working in engineering should still be a major concern to the engineering sector. We hope that our analysis stimulates more exploration of how we can do better—why are women more likely to work in engineering outside of the engineering sector than in it? What changes have happened in some areas of engineering to make them more attractive to women? What can we do to bring more female engineers back into engineering,” Leevers questioned.
“We need to ensure that engineering is a career choice that attracts the next generation of young women and that we respond to the needs of women who have left the engineering workforce and actively bring them back. Engineering businesses and organisations recognise these needs and are working together more effectively to learn how to improve our efforts. I am optimistic that by learning and working together, we can quicken the pace of change and achieve the diverse and insightful workforce needed for the UK to thrive,” Leevers concluded.