Engineering - Facing a Shortage of Skilled Workers

The current Engineering Industry

The Engineering industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers and as a result, businesses are struggling to fill roles and find talent; organizations are taking on recruits who are under-qualified for their job roles. In recent years, as many as 85% of firms have noticed the impact of the skills gap. Having a skilled and more productive workforce leads to a higher standard of goods/services, which in turn forms the basis for faster economic growth.

Factors Contributing to the Skills Shortage

Covid-19 and Brexit have had a significant impact on the industry, with increased levels of staff turnover, shortage of materials, and higher project costs, Brexit has shrunk the talent pool with many engineering workers coming from overseas. These are all contributing factors to the current skills shortage, the high staff turnover wasn't solely caused by Covid it was also down to losing workers to better paying industries/management roles.

Another concern is the aging workforce, with the average age of an engineer being fifty-four, in the UK. The flawed image and perception of engineering means there are not many younger workers going into this line of work, there is a common lack of interest among young people. This is down to there not being enough knowledge surrounding engineering for the younger generation, they fail to know how many different opportunities engineering has to offer.

The Impact

For the industry, the skills shortage means higher costs, missed opportunities, and extra time & resources being used to train under-qualified workers.

The Engineering industry is crucial for meeting sustainable goals and taking climate change action, so the current concern is who will fill these jobs to meet these goals. There is a massive opportunity for engineers to help with climate change, civil and mechanical engineers can help to develop and design new materials and modern technology, reducing our impact on the environment.

 The climate crisis is not the only pressure firms are facing there are other challenges too, such as lack of funding and outdated infrastructure. Also, the fact that smaller organizations may be forced to pass on additional duties to existing workers, causing more workplace stress and burnout in the workforce.

Addressing the Shortage

Better education in engineering is essential when addressing the skills gap, we need to change younger people's perception of the type of work and opportunities it offers. Many new engineers are going to be needed to meet net-zero challenges in the coming decades, schools can work to educate students on the industry and how they can get into this line of work. Social media tools can also be a powerful way to put out campaigns to younger audiences and encourage them to consider a career in engineering.

Highlighting the benefits of working in engineering could encourage people to pursue a career in the industry, some of the benefits include having a wide range of career choices, and engineering has many areas of work to offer. With the potential to benefit society, engineers hold value to the public as they provide solutions to problems and improve our everyday lives. Another benefit is Job stability, engineering is a very secure field of work and there is a constant demand for it, society will always need engineers.

Conclusion

With the current struggles the industry faces, targeted recruitment is needed to hire talented individuals. Partnering with a recruitment agency can alleviate your struggles, we have a talented and experienced Engineering team who are committed to solving your recruitment needs.

If you require support within your business, our consultants are here to help.