The manufacturing sector is central to the UK government’s ambitions to create a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society. But the sector faces serious and ongoing skills shortages, which are being exacerbated by the pace of technological change.
With projections forecasting an increased requirement for employees across most manufacturing occupations (see figure below), it is imperative that we attract a diverse cohort of young people to the sector.
Yet, our recent research conducted on behalf of WorldSkills UK (WSUK) found that only 36% of young people said they would consider a career in manufacturing.
Young women are far less likely to consider a career in manufacturing (18%, compared to 54% of young men).
