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The decrease of 599,100, revealed by a new investigation by the GMB union, amounts to a 17% difference between 2007 and 2017. Every region experienced the downturn, with London, Scotland and the North West facing drops of 27%, 22% and 21% respectively.
The union blamed government uncertainty over Brexit for the job losses, although a spokesman for manufacturer’s organisation the EEF told Professional Engineering that recruitment intentions in the last couple of years have been positive, and actually resulted in some job growth.
Looking ahead, the GMB said the next government must invest in industry or more communities will pay the price.
“We are at a critical crossroads in UK manufacturing,” said Jude Brimble, national secretary for manufacturing. “The right support for our manufacturing sector would accelerate growth, address the skills gap and provide a much-needed boost to technology, production and exports.”
Last year, the MHA Manufacturing and Engineering report found 94% of manufacturers expect further increases in production costs due to Brexit. The survey, carried out with the IMechE and Lloyds Commercial Banking, also suggested the skills gap could get worse if more EU workers leave British firms.
The GMB figures do not include recent job losses, including 2,000 at Eurofighter Typhoon manufacturer BAE Systems, and 1,000 at Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands amid uncertainty over Brexit and concern over the future of diesel as a fuel source.
“A robust manufacturing base post-Brexit is vital for the UK economy, workers and local communities,” said Brimble. “The continuing decline in jobs is a result in this Government's failure to deliver the certainty the industry needs. It begs the question, how does this add up to Theresa May's commitments that ‘the UK's post-Brexit arrangements must protect people's jobs and security’? This is why GMB Union’s Making It campaign calls for a rethink on government procurement, investment for skills and jobs across manufacturing and for a Brexit deal that delivers for workers."
The spokesman for the EEF said job numbers are not the best way of considering manufacturing’s position in the economy. He said: “The quality of jobs and the skill levels are far, far higher, so while there are fewer people employed… those people are making much, much more.”
The scale of job losses is worrying, said IMechE head of education Peter Finegold. "We simply don’t effectively promote manufacturing career roles in our schools," he told PE. "Manufacturing needs a champion in every school and college, who can communicate the creativity and opportunity that working in modern industry is able to offer."
The institution backs the government's career strategy and founded the STEM Insight scheme, where teachers attend work placements in modern industry to gain useful experience.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.