The government is being urged to address the “perilous” skills gaps and talent shortages still facing engineering.
The call by the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) has also argued that engineering knowledge, skills and behaviours are evolving and so the workforce must adapt to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Worryingly, the report has highlighted a growing shortfall in the UK’s engineering skills capacity.
It has pointed to predictions by Skills England that, by 2030, employment growth in engineering will be 1.6 times that of non-priority sectors.
Over the next five years, jobs in clean energy, defence, digital and housebuilding are set to increase by 834,000 roles, bringing the combined workforce in these sectors to 5.3 million by 2030.
In fact, one in four job adverts in the UK now relate to engineering, underscoring the sector’s systemic and sustained demand, the NEPC has said.
Moreover, the problem is not just shortages in the number of engineers and technicians needed, the centre has argued.
“The UK does not currently have a skills system in place to develop a workforce with the capabilities, values and support required to succeed in their roles,” it said.
“For example, new data shows that although 74% of engineering employers say advanced digital skills will be critical over the next three years, only 39% are currently prioritising these for training,” it added.
The centre has therefore outlined a range of recommendations, including a greater focus on technological development and societal and environmental need, a more coherent strategy to align skills development with national needs, and that available training should be easy to access and to provide.
“Simplified qualification routes, improving learning formats, and aligning with occupational standards will create a more coherent and inclusive system,” the centre has argued.
The full report can be found at https://nepc.raeng.org.uk/policy-work/engineers-2030/the-future-of-engineering-education-and-skills-engineers-2030/
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