Engineering

Engineers are in demand – most sectors of the UK economy will need to be decarbonised over the next 25 years, which will lead to an even greater demand for engineers. However, engineering is facing a large skills shortage. Delivering a clean (carbon-free) electricity system is an engineering challenge, but we are not seeing enough engineers to fill new jobs and replace those retiring from the sector.

The sector is challenged by representation shortages and it needs more women – only 16% of the engineering workforce is female. The sector needs more people from all backgrounds and differing abilities, especially underrepresented groups, to discover how a career in engineering could be for them. A strong and diverse engineering and technology workforce is vital to the UK economy. Having a workforce that is representative of the population’s diversity will lead to greater innovation, and creativity, and more equitable solutions.

Engineers develop low-carbon solutions. In transportation they design the electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles of the future, as well as the re-charging network to support them. In buildings, they design low-energy offices, schools, hospitals and homes, while developing affordable ways to retrofit our housing stock. In shipping, engineers are harnessing wind-power and low-carbon fuels to propel ships. To reach net zero, engineers will also need to develop ways to economically remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground. They might also take further steps towards a circular economy by finding new methods for recycling a wider range of materials.

Example projects:

• Engineers are investigating whether solar panels in space could be used to transmit energy to the Earth.
• There are a handful of DAC (Direct Air Capture) projects which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as the Orca plant in Iceland.
• De-carbonising aviation is particularly challenging due to the need for large quantities of energy. Engineers are investigating e-planes, hydrogen-powered planes and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Jobs in engineering and technology involve everything from the design, installation, and operation of systems and products, through to maintenance. These roles may also consider what happens with products next, once they have reached their full use, capacity or life span. Examples of jobs include: Solar Energy Advisor, Recycled Goods Designer, Carbon Removal Scientist, Marine Engineer, Biotechnologist, Medical Electronics Advanced Technician, Sustainability Apprentice, and Civil Engineering Technician.

Engineers are well paid. Advertised salaries in engineering are almost 30% higher than the national average of all occupations.

Engineers tend to specialise in specific areas including: aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical and electronic, energy, marine, materials, mechanical, nuclear, and software. Some examples of highly transferrable engineering skills, which are also in demand, include:

• Creativity
• Teamwork
• Open-mindedness
• Social conscience
• Communication
• Determination
• Problem-finding and solving
• Innovation

Engineers use these skills to:

• Design new wind turbines or wind farms
• Create a new insulation material for use in retrofitting old buildings
• Invent a tracking device for endangered species, to help understand their migration habits better
• Design cheaper, lighter, recyclable batteries to store electricity ,helping to support the use of intermittent renewables
• Planning vertical and floating (space, water and energy saving) farms
• Improve travel methods and routes for people
• Create solar paint for buildings that convert sunlight to electricity
• Use AI to improve waste sorting machines and recycling rates
• Develop a hydrogen-powered aeroplane.

Jobs that are predicted to decline will often have green transition pathways, for example, an offshore oil and gas Rig Worker might transition to offshore wind farm installation and maintenance.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI): machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) systems are becoming increasingly advanced. This will, in turn, increase the demand for engineers and technicians to develop, test and improve the AI systems, as well as support people to use them responsibly.

Data: many jobs in the future will involve advanced digital and computing skills, there will be an increasing demand for people who can handle complex information creatively. Engineers will need to review AI outputs and be adaptable to ensure information and data is accessible, accurate, reliable, and managed securely.

Ethical decision-making: building and developing an ethical mindset allows engineers, scientist and technicians to consider the impact of their actions on others and demonstrate fairness, inclusivity, care, and responsibility throughout their work. This includes considering our health and wellbeing, data and privacy, and environment.

The ‘Engineering skills needs now and into the future’ report provides insights into:

• Job locations: The top five locations for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) roles are in the South East (14.6%), London (13.7%) the North West (10.6%), the South West (9.7%), and joint at 8.6% are the East Midlands and the East of England.
• Regional vacancies: The top five highest job postings currently are in London (592+), the North West 261+, the South West 209+, the East of England, 206+, the West Midlands 204+.
• 2030 job role locations: Looking ahead to 2030, the highest rise in job growth will be in these five locations: the South East (17%), the East of England (14%), the South West (14%), the West Midlands (11%), and the North West (9%).

How might a career in engineering be for you?

1. There are lots of careers in engineering: explore 12 areas of engineering in this helpful Idea to Career booklet or navigate pathways into engineering with the All routes into engineering booklet
2. Discover more about specific careers areas and professional registration in engineering through the Engineering Council.
3. Engineering UK lists a wide range of professional engineering institution websites.
4. Careers inspiration: Watch this video about Shaping Zero in Civil Engineering.

Resources and reference reports for your continued professional development:

• News: Read about 2024 being a Record year for wind power in Great Britain
• News: Read about how EV targets hit in first year analysis
• News: Read about the Demand for engineers increasing, with rapid growth in green jobs, by Engineering UK
• Report: Engineering skills needs now and into the future
• Report: Clean Power 2030: Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity
• Report: Explore ‘Engineering skills needs now and into the future’ and discover how these have changed across the engineering sector in recent years
• Report: An overview of evidence on the potential impacts of A Net Zero Workforce (May 2023) to inform government policy

Resources for teachers:

Inspire young people in a range of education settings to help them understand how engineering is everywhere and how engineers work towards solving global challenges.

• The Engineer your future presentation provides top tips for presenters to help young people understand what engineering is and how their interests and hobbies link to it.
• Climate Schools Programme resources, lessons in science, geography and English, assemblies and tutorials will help you to empower students to explore innovative solutions to tackling climate change. TheClimate Action Club helps support students 11 to 14 create and work on engineering or technology-based projects which focus on how they can reduce a schools and/or community’s contribution to climate change.
• Tackling climate change workshop is available on STEM Learning.