Where are the women in engineering?

Expertise, industry-insight, demand and skills in the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) industry are all at a low. Last year, there was a shortfall of approximately 173,000 STEM workers. As the ageing workforce begins to retire, there’s a growing gap in experience and knowledge. Educating, supporting, and encouraging female students to enter the STEM industry can help to tackle this skills gap. However, female uptake can be limited by the barriers women may face when in entering the industry.

The skills gap continues despite the increase in females sitting STEM subjects

There’s been a marked increase in female students sitting STEM subject exams – rising from 1,123,181 in 2019 to 1,159,207 in 2022. Female students are also outperforming their male peers, in their exam results, specifically for engineering, which achieved an increase of 20.5%. However, these numbers aren’t mirrored in those going into STEM careers and establishing a foothold on the engineering career ladder. Early action from schools can guide future engineers into the right direction and overcome stereotypes.

As many as 1.8m engineers are needed by 2025 to close the skills gap. Big Bang, Energy Quest and Robotics Challenge are the names of programmes EngineeringUK offer to reach younger people and kickstart their passion for engineering. Helping to target and deliver the right support directly to them. Companies can benefit from recruiting more widely and inclusively, ultimately showcasing the variety of job roles, which don’t stop at being a car mechanic or software engineer.

The WES and WISE organisations set to help future women engineers

Organisations like Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) are paving the way for change within the industry. Not only do they teach the importance of pursuing a STEM career, but they offer a range of workshops to adhere valuable skills. WES offer a student conference on the 25th November to inspire the younger generation and support their career ambitions. It involves talks, conversations, panel sessions and face to face networking alongside industry leaders to sharpen students personal development and help them within the employment market.

For businesses, WISE offer webinars on topics to increase well-being and job satisfaction e.g., how to retain your workforce, diversity and inclusion and developing women in the workplace. WISE’s 10 step framework ensures women that they have the same opportunities as men and works to remove the gender bias while believing and supporting women in the industry.

The WISE 2023 conference will benefit STEM businesses that are wanting to recruit and retain female talent. The aim is to share knowledge, practical lessons and allow networking, by bringing people together with similar interests and giving them the chance to talk to inspirational keynote speakers.

Within the industry a focus is on mentors and ambassadors to change the portrayal of engineering stereotypes, increase visibility on the types of careers available, and fundamentally changing young females’ lives. International Women in Engineering Day celebrated on June 23rd is another cause to encourage women into engineering careers and celebrate those already making a difference.

Empowering women to strive for success

At a time, women were under-represented in the boardroom. Skip forward to 2019 and more women were getting into the boardroom of FTSE 100 companies and executive roles. Nearly half of STEM companies have achieved the target of having 33% women on their boards. The recording of women in core STEM professions is at a high, slowly overcoming the narrative and changing attitudes of businesses. The number of engineering professionals who said they felt positive about their career opportunities was at 60%. Companies are showing a clear commitment to their workforce by offering a flexible work environment, which tackles the myth that females must choose between their career or having kids. The flexible working conditions that are becoming more available are allowing women to succeed in both and not have their future ambitions restricted to one or the other. Our 2022 salary guide shows pay rises occurred in the engineering and manufacturing industry with a 3.2% increase between 2021-2022. As the need for niche skills and experience is present within the industry, it is not unusual to press for better salaries. No question about it, the industry is becoming more attractive.

A united effort within schools, organisations and in the industry will gradually implement change, reduce stereotypes and create diversity. Despite the notable increase of women working in engineering from 562,000 in 2010 to 936,000 in 2021, it is still essential to put maximum work in to creating a future for women engineers.

Ready to prove yourself in the engineering industry, for more insights on engineering jobs find the latest here.