Engineering news
Published today (13 April) by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2021 report shows that there were 46,995 jobs in 2020, an increase of 6.7% on the previous year.
Although the report – conducted for the UKSA by BryceTech – shows a slight 1.7% drop in total income of the sector, it fared much better than the wider UK economy, which fell 9.9% in the same period.
Space manufacturing, including satellites, spacecraft, launch vehicles and scientific instruments, grew the most in real terms, up by £23m to £2.27bn. Investment in R&D saw a 19% boost to £836m.
Confidence in the sector remains high despite the challenges caused by the pandemic. More than three-quarters (79%) of organisations predict a rise in income over the next three years, 74% expect further increases in employment, and more than half (53%) expect growth in space exports.
“The UK space sector has shown remarkable resilience in the face of challenges presented by the pandemic, thanks to the incredible efforts of all those within it,” said UKSA CEO Dr Paul Bate. “Its future is a bright and ambitious one.”
There are now 1,293 space organisations located around the country, the report shows. Spaceports in Scotland, Wales and England are expected to generate more jobs in the coming years, alongside the growth of regional space ‘clusters’, international investment, and emerging technologies such as in-space manufacturing and debris removal.
Science minister George Freeman said: “Looking ahead to the first satellite launches from the UK this year, this is an exciting time for this high growth sector up and down the country.”
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