Women in Engineering: Unlocking £1 Billion in Earnings Potential

This International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), EngineeringUK reveals new estimates showing how careers in engineering and technology could significantly boost women's earnings.

Across the UK economy, women are concentrated in lower-paid sectors. In contrast, engineering and technology roles pay £9,000 more per year than the average for all occupations.

EngineeringUK estimates that 240,000 people are needed to join the engineering and technology workforce annually. If 50% of these were women, they would collectively earn £1 billion more each year compared to entering other roles. Yet currently, women make up only 17% of the UK engineering and technology workforce.

This gender imbalance not only limits women's earning potential but also hinders the government's ability to address workforce shortages in high-growth sectors and close the gender pay gap.

Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, comments: "The UK needs a thriving, diverse engineering and technology workforce to support economic growth, national security, and sustainability. We need to grow both the size and diversity of the current workforce to address shortages and enhance productivity and innovation. It's vital that we have more young people, particularly young women, on education and training pathways into engineering and technology."

"There would be literally millions more women in the engineering and technology workforce if they were present at the same rates as men. This would meet the country's workforce needs and women themselves would benefit financially. The definition of a win-win."

EngineeringUK, together with partners, has built the Gender Pathways Collective, a partnership driving a collective mission to significantly increase the number of girls and young women in education pathways to engineering and technology by age 18.

This INWED, EngineeringUK is calling for action to tackle the gender imbalance. They are:

• Seeking to engage the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Women and Equalities with the work of the Gender Pathways Collective.
• Working with the Gender Pathways Collective on a blueprint for action for government, to launch in September.

For more information about the Gender Pathways Collective, visit EngineeringUK's website.