Importance of the engineering profession to the UK’s economy has been estimated at £645 billion in gross value added each year, according to research published to coincide with National Engineering Day.
The annual campaign is led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, and aims to celebrate the achievements of the profession and inspire the next generation of engineers. This year’s theme is ‘improving lives through engineering’, which is said to recognise the fact that having a positive impact on the lives of others is a key career motivator for young people.
The research published today was conducted by Metro Dynamics for a project commissioned by the RAE. It shows that more than 8.1 million people – or 26% of all workers – are part of the UK’s engineering economy, which accounts for 32% of the country’s economic output.
There are estimated to be 729,000 engineering businesses in the UK, equivalent to more than one in 10 of all businesses, while on average the annual economic output generated from an engineering job is thought to be 23% higher than the average job.
“Engineering touches our lives every single day – even if we often don’t notice it,” said the Royal Academy of Engineering’s chief executive Dr Hayaatun Sillem. “This new research emphasises the economic impact of the sector right across the UK, revealing how important engineering is for employment and prosperity in a wide range of regions.
“Through their work in these regions, these engineers will also be improving healthcare, providing secure and sustainable energy and contributing towards a sustainable and equitable future for people across the UK and beyond. Put simply, they are playing a vital role in tackling the problems we face today and improving our lives for tomorrow.”
However, she added, “if the profession is to continue to drive change, we need more people from a wider range of backgrounds to choose engineering. Through National Engineering Day we hope to inspire the next generation of engineers to join this future-shaping profession.”
The research also highlights a series of engineering ‘hotspots’ across the UK, where a high proportion of the local population – between one-in-three and one-in-two adults – are employed in engineering. Mid Ulster, West Cumbria, Flintshire and Wrexham, West Lothian, and Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are the regions with the highest proportions of engineers, it found.