The proportion of women in engineering has decreased every year since 1998. Most employers are keen to attract more women and there are several initiatives, including the Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) designed to facilitate this. Women are projected to account for fewer than 1 in 4 jobs in 2014.

Women make up 21% of the total engineering workforce, but this is projected to fall to 18% by 2009. Within the occupations women represent:

• 8% of managers
• 3.2% of Chartered Engineers
• 1.0% of Incorporated Engineers
• 1.2% of Engineering Technicians

The number of female registered engineers has been increasing since 1994 from 1.4% to 2.8% in 2004. There is a positive trend that an increasing number of women are seeking professional registration. For more information on professionals registrations see education and training.

The gender profile across the industries includes:

• 28% in electronics, compared to 49% in the economy as a whole
• 14% in automotive
• 11% in aerospace
  

Women are mostly employed in electronics assembly work, but this is likely to be lower in the future as more work is contracted aboard. 

Source: SEMTA 2006, Working Futures 2006, ETB 2005, AGCAS 2004 and SEMTA 2004

For more information on female employment in engineering and predicted trends see:

Research looking at careers guidance literature on science, engineering and technology (SET) suggest that boys and girls consider SET occupations as male orientated, which puts girls off this area of study. A further deterrent for girls is that they also perceive SET occupations as being less to do with people and relationships.

Source: Pollard, et al. 2003

For more resources and information on science, engineering and technology careers go to the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. The website includes information on: research; policy and other initiatives; mentoring; women returners; and statistics.

For more information on WISE and similar initiatives go to links and sources. 

For a detailed report on women in engineering see

• Greenfield, S., Peters, J., Lane, N., Rees, T. and Samuels, G. (2002) SET Fair: A Report on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. London: Department of Trade and Industry.

A summary of this report is available on the Equal Opportunities - Gender section of this website.

The proportion of employees who are ‘non-white’ :

• 4% in electronics
• 2% in aerospace 
• 7% in automotive

Employment of ethnic minorities in the automotive industry in the West Midlands (10%) is higher than average, but the figure is relatively low considering the large ethnic population within the region.

Source: SEMTA 2006

A report by SEMTA and ACNST on ethnic minorities into science, engineering and technology (2004) is available. 

Overview of the engineering sector based on 2003/04 Labour Force Survey data:

• 9% of the workforce are aged 16-24 years
• 20% are 25-34 years
• 28% are 35-44 years
• 42% are 45-64 years, which is the highest proportion
• only 1% of the workforce are 65 years or above 

The average of age of registered engineers is over 50 years.  26% of Chartered Engineers, 13% of Incorporated Engineers and 8% of Engineering Technicians are aged 65 and over.

The average age of Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians is increasing, which is the result of a long term decline in new registrations.  A more evenly distributed age profile will be achieved in the future if new registrations continue to increase as they have in the last few years.

Across the industries, there is a similar age profile:

Electronics

• 8% of the workforce are aged 16-24 years, compared to 9% in UK engineering
• 55% are 25-44 years, compared to 48% in UK engineering
• 37% are aged 45 years plus, compared to 43% in UK engineering

Automotive

• 9% of the workforce are aged 16-24 years, the same as UK engineering
• 48% are 25-44 years, the same as UK engineering
• 43% are aged 45 years plus, the same as UK engineering

Aerospace

• 7% of the workforce are aged 16-24 years, compared to 9% in UK engineering
• 49% are 25-44 years, compared to 48% in UK engineering
• 45% are aged 45 years plus, compared to 43% in UK engineering

Low numbers of young people are entering the aerospace industry so the demographic profile is similar to engineering as a whole.  However, Northern Ireland has a younger workforce profile than the UK, while Scotland as has an older work profile.  49% of the workforce is aged 25-44 years, 45% are aged 45 years plus and only 7% are aged 16-24 years.  Recent graduates and those aged 16-24 years are more likely to be recruited in aerospace than Maintenance, repair and overhaul.

Source: SEMTA 2006, ETB 2005 and SEMTA 2004

15% of sites have people with disabilities working for them.

13% of employees in engineering are classed as currently having a disability which is the same for all industry sectors.

In engineering industries, the percentage of employees classed as having a disability are:

• 11% in electronics
• 14% in automotive
• 12% in aerospace
  

Source: SEMTA 2006