Plugging the STEM Skills Gap

The UK STEM skills shortage costs our economy an estimated £1.5bn every year, placing business growth, net-zero objectives, and digital transformation at risk.

Adecco’s Plugging the STEM Skills Gap whitepaper provides achievable solutions and workforce development strategies to address talent shortfalls in your business and beyond. Download your free report now.

The deepening impact of the UK STEM skills shortage

Longstanding STEM skills shortages continue to impact productivity, economic advancement, and broader policy objectives. According to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, 43% of STEM vacancies are hard to fill – primarily due to a lack of applicants with the required skills and experience.

The resulting talent deficit has left employment gaps across key fields, including engineering, defence, aerospace, and energy. According to research commissioned by National Grid, the UK’s energy sector needs to expand the net-zero energy workforce by 400,000 people before 2050. The automotive industry will also be significantly affected, with employment structures heavily altered by the transition to electric mobility.

Hundreds of thousands of technology and IT-related positions are also going unfilled. The UK tech sector has grown tenfold in the last decade, with organisations setting ambitious digital transformation goals across cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics. However, almost 70% of UK digital leaders say talent shortfalls are slowing the pace of progress.

Despite the imbalance of talent supply and demand, STEM workforce projections show a wealth of opportunity for organisations that embrace automation, technology, and networking. 49% of manufacturing companies say they will need more higher-level capabilities and 46% expect to take on more mid-level skills. The trend continues in other STEM-led areas, such as streamlining engineering to enhance efficiency and using AI experts and robotics engineers to optimise quality control, safety, and production schedules.

While these emerging fields offer new employment and development avenues, upskilling staff and sourcing qualified technical and analytical talent is crucial to filling future roles.

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Key trends and challenges related to the STEM workforce and skills in the UK.

Plugging the STEM Skills Gap

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Obstacles to successful STEM talent acquisition

Employers face persistent STEM recruitment challenges, including an ageing workforce, barriers to entry for underrepresented groups, and difficulties in attracting and retaining young people with STEM qualifications.

The future of STEM in the UK relies on developing domestic talent, inclusive and accessible STEM training and education, and stronger links between business, academia, and industry. Although statistics from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show more young people taking STEM subjects at university than ever before, the percentage of new entrants, students, and graduates in engineering, manufacturing, and construction among all higher education students in the UK is relatively low.

Limited awareness, outdated STEM stereotypes, and diversity issues could be driving the disconnect.

According to research by Engineering UK, less than half of young people know about the apprenticeship options available to them. Socio-economic background also influences the decision to pursue STEM opportunities, with only 35% of young people from lower-income households knowing the required subjects or qualifications to become an engineer.

Restricted knowledge and negative perceptions also contribute to low numbers of young people considering STEM careers in the UK. Those who understand what engineers do are more likely to view the profession positively and explore a role in engineering.

Lack of diversity is a significant hurdle in addressing the STEM skills gap. Research shows that women, people from certain ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and those identifying as LGBTQ+ are underrepresented in critical STEM education, research, and employment areas.

For businesses struggling with STEM talent acquisition, these untapped applicant pools present a vital source of skills. However, work must be done to ensure early engagement, provide clear access to opportunities, and offer attractive STEM career pathways.

For example, women are less likely than men to select subjects such as computer science, engineering, or maths at university level. Females currently make up only 13% of computing A-Level students in England and 23% of physics students. According to Engineering UK, 115,000 more girls need to take maths or physics at A-Level to reach equal numbers of male and female students studying engineering and technology degrees.

Practical solutions to plug the STEM skills gap

Future-proofing STEM careers requires an action-focused approach and collaborative efforts between employers and educators. Solutions must lay the foundation for the future of STEM and eliminate systemic imbalances in today’s UK workforce.

To strengthen the pipeline of STEM talent, young people need clear, easy-to-access information on the full range of potential vocational and academic pathways. By following the most fitting educational path – from traditional apprenticeships and A-Levels to lesser-known T-Levels and degree apprenticeships – career starters can step into key operational roles and gain skills specific to the sector.

To solve immediate STEM requirements, businesses can benefit from upskilling and reskilling current employees. Successfully tackling short-term skills gaps often requires changes to training, development, and recruitment strategies to ensure no one is excluded from STEM opportunities. Progressive hiring policies, flexible working arrangements, and staff diversity and inclusion training can empower underrepresented groups to realise their full potential.

Adecco’s Plugging the STEM Skills Gap whitepaper delivers point-by-point plans to tackle existing and emerging talent shortages. Drawing on decades of recruitment expertise and the latest STEM industry best practices, the report provides targeted guidance on:

Making sense of STEM industry insights and how they impact your business and recruitment strategies.

Breaking through ethnic, gender, socio-economic, LGBTQ+, and disability barriers to unlock alternative talent pools.

Successfully upskilling domestic employees and fast-tracking qualified overseas candidates to boost STEM careers in the UK.

Changing perceptions of STEM professions and engaging tomorrow’s STEM leaders.

Creating productive partnerships across business, industry, and education.

Accessing government initiatives designed to develop the next generation of STEM specialists.

Download your FREE report now

Plugging the STEM Skills Gap highlights the issues holding your business back from successful STEM talent acquisition. Featuring insights from a range of trusted industry authorities, the free report delivers a comprehensive understanding of the STEM skills landscape in the UK and proven strategies to bridge the gap.

For upskilling plans for your own workforce, solutions to overcome STEM education challenges, and diversity and inclusion initiatives that bring STEM careers within everyone’s reach, download the full report.