Two-thirds of employees in the sector are male compared to three-quarters of the manufacturing sector, and a little more than half for the entire UK workforce.  By 2009, almost 3 out of 4 employees in the sector will be male.  This is mainly due to the predominance of traditional male occupations in the sector.

To appeal to the majority of the working population the sector will need to increase awareness of flexible working conditions and increase recruitment.

Source: Improve Skills Needs Analysis (volume 2) 2006 and Improve Market Assessment 2004

The workforce in the sector is aging with a significantly large group of 35-44 year olds and 45-54 year olds.  A significant proportion of the workforce is also above 55 years of age.  The sector has a similar age profile to that of the manufacturing sector and the UK as a whole.

Source: Improve Market Assessment 2004

The UK sector workforce is predominantly white (93%). 

Ethnic diversity in the workforce is expected to increase due to a general increase within the working age population and the recent introduction of the Sector-based Work Permits UK scheme.  The Sector-based Work Permits UK scheme allows importation of non-EU labour for hard-to-fill vacancies.

Many foreign nationals are employed within the food and drink industry.  About 50% of the food companies employ overseas nationals (OSN).  Roughly about 23,000 OSN are employed in the UK food and drink manufacturing industry.  This represents 5.5% of the total workforce in the UK food and drink manufacturing industry.  However, OSN worker do not only undertake low-paid manual jobs.  Research commissioned by Improve shows that around a third of OSN undertake managerial, technical/scientific, supervisory or skilled roles.

Source: Improve Overseas Nationals report 2005 and Improve Market Assessment 2004

The main industries in the food and drink manufacturing and process sector (including bakery, dairy, meat and poultry) have less than 1% of the workforce disabled.

73% of sector firms do no employ workers with a physical disability.

Source: Improve website 2006 and Improve Skills Needs Analysis (volume 2) 2006