Engineering skills in high demand

A new report has found that demand is high for engineering skills, despite the ongoing skills shortages having an impact on firms’ growth prospects.

The research, collected by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) using Broadbean data, revealed that engineering job vacancies neared the 15,000 mark by the end of March 2023.

This is an increase of 6% year-on-year, with figures higher than at any point during 2022.

However, issues such as an ageing workforce and a wider lack of available STEM talent could be preventing further growth within the industry.

Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo, explained, “The shortage of engineering staff is continuing to impact businesses across the sector and the rise in vacancies noted for the first quarter of this year alongside a sustained fall in applications is cause for concern.

“The skills shortages in engineering won’t be solvable overnight and while a longer-term talent solution is necessary, there is a more pressing need for immediate solutions.

“This includes improving the UK’s access to the international flexible labour market to fill resourcing gaps in a manageable and financially viable way.”

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