Engineering news
The majority of the British public (78%) think engineering would be a good career choice for a woman, compared to just 4% who said it was not, according to a survey by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
The survey, commissioned to coincide with International Women’s Day, found that 86% of respondents would support their school-aged daughter if she decided to become an engineer. The poll also found strong support (78%) for more engineering to be included in the school curriculum, while 54% of people said engineering is as prestigious a profession as law, medicine or accountancy.
Dr Helen Meese, head of healthcare at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Chartered Engineer said: “We think it is vital that in addition to learning about volcanoes and photosynthesis, children are also taught about the manufactured world and understand the principles of objects, such as a phone touchscreen or a dialysis machine.
“This survey shows strong public support for women in engineering, and we hope that by making children aware of the variety of ways engineering impacts our day-to-day lives that we will be able to inspire more children and girls to take up engineering.”
Meanwhile, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has called on employers, educators and government to encourage more women to pursue careers in engineering, or else risk a debilitating skills shortage crisis.
It’s survey of engineering recruiters found that 54% believe that skills shortages have become more apparent in the past 12 months, and a further 28% say shortages are just as bad as they were a year ago, according to data released today by the REC.
This is due in part to a scarcity of women applying for jobs in the sector –120,991 women applied for UK engineering vacancies in 2015 compared to 1,043,507 men, according to reed.co.uk.
The engineering recruiters questioned suggested a number of potential solutions to this imbalance: 78% said that better careers advice in schools is the key to attracting more women to the sector; 62% said that government should do more to encourage girls to take maths and science at A-Level; and 58% said that employers should offer more flexible working options.
The survey found that 48% of engineering recruiters believe that women have the same opportunities as men within engineering, but that not enough effort is made to attract women to the sector. However, 31% said that employers’ attitudes are holding women back.
Kate Shoesmith, REC head of policy, said: “UK engineering will need to fill upwards of 2.56 million vacancies before 2022 – failure to meet this target would pose major risks to projects such as HS2 or the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. Businesses are already experiencing a shortage of candidates with engineering skills.
“Employers, educators and government all have a responsibility to tackle the root causes of the gender imbalance in this sector because the status quo is unsustainable,” she added.
Meanwhile, Royal Academy of Engineering has published a series of profiles to mark International Women’s Day 2016. More than 40 of it’s women Fellows explain why they chose engineering as their profession and call on today’s school-leavers to follow their example, encouraging them to “just go for it”.
Asked what should be done to achieve gender parity in engineering – reflecting a key pledge of this year’s International Women’s Day – two thirds of the Fellows call for continued progress in breaking down existing stereotypes and creating a welcoming and inclusive culture in the engineering profession. Almost all mention the importance of a mentor or parent who was an engineer or scientist and provided encouragement when they were starting their careers.
They also highlight the importance of good teaching in schools and of sharing the interesting and exciting experiences they have enjoyed as professional engineers working around the world.
Professor Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our women Fellows, while at the same time demonstrating over and over again that engineering offers rewarding careers. Their stories illustrate the creativity, variety and breadth within engineering. We hope that this will inspire and encourage more people to choose engineering careers.”
The Royal Academy profiles can be seen here.