The engineering sector is a cornerstone of the United Kingdom's economy, with around 729,000 engineering businesses employing approximately 6.3 million individuals, which is around 19% of the nation's workforce. Forecasts suggest that these numbers are only going to grow - with demand for engineering expertise increasing across all regions of the UK by 2030.

Despite this demand for engineers, the industry is facing a serious skills shortage that is already impacting major infrastructure projects and threatening the nation’s competitive edge. So what do UK companies plan to do about the growing engineering skill shortage?

The Current UK Engineering Workforce in 2025

Several trends are currently impacting the health of the UK’s engineering industry:

• Ageing workforce: a significant portion of the UK’s engineering workforce is nearing retirement, with 14.7% of workers aged over 60, up from 11.6% in previous years. This impending retirement of seasoned professionals is only going to widen the engineering skills gap over the next decade.
• Diversity deficit: the same report reveals that minority ethnic groups are underrepresented in engineering and technology occupations at 12.4%, compared to 16.0% in other fields. This disparity points to a significant diversity deficit in the engineering sector.
• Gender imbalance: women make up 15.7% of the engineering and technology workforce, a decrease from 16.5% in 2022.
• Regional variations: the ECITB Workforce Census highlights the South East’s higher proportion of workers over 60, with 23.2% compared to 12.4% nationally. This regional disparity raises concerns about workforce sustainability in specific areas.

These statistics illustrate the sobering challenge faced by the UK's engineering sector, but they don’t paint the full picture.

Other factors are contributing to the Engineering Skills shortage

Beyond these demographic factors, the wider STEM field - and the way our society is changing - are also impacting the engineering industry’s ability to recruit and retain talent:

• Educational shortcomings: Despite an increasing demand for engineering skills in the UK, there has been a notable decline in the uptake of STEM subjects, with some subjects seeing entries halve in the last decade.
• Perception issues: outdated perceptions of engineering as a male-dominated and less innovative field deter young people - particularly women and underrepresented groups - from pursuing engineering careers.
• Competition from other industries: the allure of careers in areas like technology is drawing potential talent away from engineering, leading to a heavy reliance on international workers.

Although many of these statistics paint a sobering picture of where the engineering industry is heading, they also highlight the areas that need work. Let’s face it, the engineering industry is made up of people who like to roll up their sleeves and solve problems - and many of us are already doing that.

Solving the UK engineering skills shortage crisis

Addressing this UK engineering skills gap is going to require breaking down existing barriers, and creating new and creative strategies that inspire a whole new generation of diverse and engaged people to join our industry. Education, government and sector leaders are going to have to work together to make things happen - and fortunately this has already begun.

Promoting STEM careers

Initiatives such as the UK Space Agency's 'Space for All' fund are inspiring young people to pursue STEM education, attracting talent to move into careers across the engineering industry. Initiatives like STEM Learning are also working with schools and colleges to make these subjects more appealing, and empower students and teachers alike.

Enhancing diversity

Organisations like In2scienceUK provide mentorship and resources to underrepresented and disadvantaged groups - to encourage them to consider engineering as a viable career option. As these groups enter into the workforce they will enrich the engineering talent pool with fresh skills and diverse perspectives.

Flexible educational pathways

The Institution of Engineering and Technology advocates for embedding engineering into the current curriculum. The plan is to offer alternative routes into the industry, such as apprenticeships and T Levels, which will make the field more accessible from an early age and attract a broader range of candidates.

Upskilling and reskilling

Many companies are investing in their existing engineers through continuous professional development. This approach not only helps their talent stay up to date with evolving technologies and working methods, but inspires them to go further with their careers. This approach aims to retain experienced engineers so our industry can bridge the gap between generations within the workforce.

These strategies are just the start - and many of us, Lanes Group in particular, are going much further to make sure the future of the UK engineering industry can address the skills gap.

Lanes Group are addressing the UK engineering skill shortage

At Lanes Group, we recognise the urgency of addressing the engineering skills shortage, and the need to show leadership on this issue. For us, it starts with offering a supportive, friendly and encouraging place for all our UK-wide teams, and a focus on:

Training and development

We invest heavily in the continuous professional development of our people through industry-leading training, including health and safety training, practical skills development and management courses.

Employee wellbeing

A supportive work environment is crucial for employee satisfaction and retention, and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. We offer our people regular wellbeing events, mental health training modules and access to in-house wellbeing experts. Our culture promotes openness about mental health issues. We want everyone across our business to feel valued and supported.

Apprenticeships at all levels

We offer a variety of apprenticeship programmes designed to provide practical experience and industry-recognised qualifications. Whether you're interested in becoming a drainage apprentice, LGV driver apprentice or utilities and engineering apprentice, our programmes combine hands-on training with formal education. This approach offers the skills necessary for a successful career in the drainage and logistics sectors. Many of our drivers, for instance, have progressed through our apprenticeship routes, obtaining their LGV licences with us.

Commitment to diversity

We understand the value of diverse perspectives and actively work to increase female representation across all roles. All our people are welcomed and treated fairly, with no additional barriers due to their identity. We offer flexible working hours, comprehensive training, and clear pathways for career progression so that women can thrive within our organisation.

Looking for a job in the UK engineering industry? Explore our current opportunities here.

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