Women, people with disabilities, and those from minority ethnic groups are still poorly represented within engineering and technology, a report has argued.
The workforce data from EngineeringUK has argued that, overall, engineering and technology make up around a fifth (19.3%) of the total UK workforce, or some 6.4 million people.
However, while there has been improvement in diversity, progress has been slow and significant disparities persist for women, ethnic minority groups and disabled people.
Women, it found, only make up 16.9% of the engineering and technology workforce, compared with 56% of other occupations.
UK minority ethnic groups represent just 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, compared with 18% of other occupations.
Disabled people make up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, lower than the 19% across all other occupations, it added.
EngineeringUK head of research Becca Gooch said: “The latest data shows that there is still more to be done before we have the diverse workforce we need for UK engineering and technology to thrive.
“Women remain the most underrepresented group. Back in 2010, women made up around 10% of the workforce, so 16.9% is certainly an increase, but over 15 years, this is slow progress for a sector growing faster than any other between now and 2030,” Gooch added.
To try to address gender disparities at least, EngineeringUK has partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Women’s Engineering Society (WES), BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and Women into Science and Engineering (WISE).
The collaboration is aiming to increase the number of girls entering engineering and technology pathways at 18 and encourage engineering and technology career choices for young women and girls, EngineeringUK added.
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