Why 8 in 10 Parents Want STEM Careers for Their Kids—But Can't Guide Them

Parental Interest in STEM Careers

New research from not-for-profit Engineering UK reveals that 8 in 10 parents, carers, or guardians find the idea of their child pursuing a career in engineering, science, or technology appealing. However, there's a significant gap: parents lack confidence in giving STEM careers advice and are unsure of the entry routes after leaving school.

Confidence Gap in Career Guidance

Confidence is lowest for discussing engineering careers, with over half of parents saying they were not confident, and 23% reporting they were 'not at all confident'. When looking at gender, dads are much more confident about giving STEM careers advice than mums, with the largest gap observed in engineering.

Awareness of Entry Routes

This overall lack of confidence could stem from low awareness of the variety of starting points into the sector. For example:

• 42% of parents know a lot about university degrees as an educational route.
• Only 20% said the same for apprenticeships.
• 15% for other vocational qualifications.
• 12% for BTECs.
• Just 5% for T levels.

In fact, over two-fifths of parents in England said they either hadn't heard of T levels or were unsure if they had.

Importance of Parental Support

Becca Gooch, Head of Research at EngineeringUK, explains: "While schools play an important role in providing careers advice, we know that parents are the most consulted source of careers information by young people. It's encouraging that parents recognize engineering and tech provide great career opportunities, but we need to ensure parents are empowered to support their child in discovering the variety of interesting and rewarding jobs and entry routes available. This will help ensure that young people from all backgrounds are encouraged to consider these careers and know they are not beyond their reach."

Reasons for Appeal and Barriers

Among parents who find engineering appealing for their child, the top three reasons are:

• Good earning potential
• Ability to work in many different industries
• Interesting work/profession

Despite this appeal, over a quarter of parents think their child would be unlikely to achieve a career in engineering, even if they wanted to, highlighting a lack of awareness of diverse entry routes like T levels, apprenticeships, and university degrees.

Exciting Opportunities in STEM

Jo Hollingdale, Senior Careers Inspiration Manager at EngineeringUK, said: "With so much growth and endless opportunities to make a real-world impact, it's a really exciting time for all young people to embark on a career in engineering and technology. From climate change and digital transformation to healthcare and aerospace, there really is a role for everyone."