Hidden talents

UK engineering is missing a golden opportunity to plug the growing skills gap by failing to recruit and retain more women, according to a study of female employment in the sector.

A briefing paper from the

(ETB) found that while the gender balance at school in science, technology, engineering and mathematics was fairly even, only 27 per cent of women with science, engineering or technology (SET) degrees went into associated careers compared with 54 per cent of men.

'At school there is a very good balance between the genders and between their attainment. As young people progress through their education in science engineering and technology, fewer and fewer girls stay with it. So when it gets to A-level physics, the numbers drop from 51 per cent of females down to 22 per cent,' said Dr John Morton, ETB chief executive.

Morton admitted that while the ETB has tried to increase participation of women in engineering over the last few years he was concerned that the effects of their current efforts had plateaued.