More young people than ever interested in engineering

We are seeing record numbers of people going into engineering and technology, which has seen the largest growth of all university and college placements, up 14% this year (16% in Scotland).

More women are going into engineering and technology, with placements up 13% from last year. Women now account for 22.1% of all engineering and technology placements.

STEM subjects remain popular

Mathematics is still a favourite choice, with more than 100,000 A Level entries this summer. Biology, chemistry and physics remain firmly in the top 10, while STEM subjects continue to be popular overall.

Vocational pathways continue to grow

There are 65.1% more T Level learners than last year, while the number of providers has grown by 20.4% over the same period. This will be the third year of Engineering and Manufacturing T Level completers, with nearly 4,000 people receiving their results.

Engineering and technology pathways unlock opportunity, offering long-term employment prospects and higher earning potential than many other fields. EngineeringUK data shows that engineering and technology graduates are more likely to be in work, earn more and feel positive about their jobs than graduates in other fields.

But the opportunity does not end there. Engineering could provide a launchpad for many more young people to thrive.

Turning interest into opportunity

The government’s interim Young People in Work report highlighted the stark number of young people not in employment, education or training. Against this backdrop, and following the introduction of the Youth Guarantee programme, it is promising to see interest in engineering careers rising.

This is particularly important as more than a third of the engineering profession approaches retirement age.

However, more young people are choosing to live at home during their studies or training, with the proportion reaching 37.5% this year. Regional access to apprenticeships and technical qualification placements is therefore vital, as rising living costs can make it difficult for young people to move further afield.

Removing regional barriers

Our recent Engineering Educators Community Forum highlighted the barriers still preventing young people from entering the engineering workforce. These include limited understanding of vocational routes and a shortage of apprenticeships and other placements in some regions.

Without action, these barriers will continue to hold back young people and limit economic growth.

With regional growth a government priority, we are calling for greater support for apprenticeships, technical qualifications and university engineering courses to meet growing demand.

Growing the next generation of engineers

“It is hugely encouraging to see a 14% increase in the number of young people choosing engineering and technology.

This is a clear sign that more young people are recognising the value of engineering as a career that offers the chance to make a real difference to society, while providing access to skilled, well-paid jobs and excellent long-term career prospects.

The engineering community has been working hard to reach young people earlier, working with schools and colleges and showing students what a career in engineering can really offer. It is fantastic to see that investment in inspiring and engaging the next generation is beginning to pay off.

But we cannot take this growing interest for granted. We need to make sure young people can access the university places, apprenticeships and technical pathways they need to turn that interest into a career.

With engineering facing significant skills shortages and a large proportion of the existing workforce approaching retirement, bringing this new generation into the profession will be vital to the UK’s future economic growth.”