A new skills gap survey commissioned by Scottish Engineering and other industry partners has revealed that Scotland’s engineering sector is on the brink of an “economic disaster” due to a severe shortage of skilled workers.
The report, released on January 10, 2025, highlights the urgent need for government action to address this growing crisis.
The survey findings paint a grim picture of the current state of Scotland’s engineering workforce:
- Half of engineering companies in Scotland are experiencing difficulties due to a lack of available skills in the external labor market.
- 45% of companies report skills gaps or limitations within their internal workforce.
- 71% of those experiencing internal skills gaps attribute it to missing engineering or technical skills.
Paul Sheerin, CEO of Scottish Engineering, commented on the findings:
“This skills shortage has been a persistent issue for the past 15 years, and frustratingly, nothing has changed. We’re now facing a situation where engineering companies across Scotland are forced to improve profitability and productivity with fewer staff than before.”
The impact of this skills gap is far-reaching, affecting various aspects of the industry:
- 50% of companies report difficulty in recruiting new talent.
- 47% experience longer recruitment timelines.
- Only one-third of companies have taken action to improve the diversity of their engineering workforce across gender (33%) or ethnicity (30%).
The report also highlights the urgent need for action to support Scotland’s transition to Net Zero by 2045. With the growing demand for skills in climate technology, artificial intelligence, and space industries, the shortage of skilled workers could significantly hinder progress in these crucial areas.
Industry leaders are calling for immediate government intervention to address this crisis.
“We need a comprehensive strategy that includes increased investment in STEM education, apprenticeship programs, and initiatives to attract and retain talent in the engineering sector,” said a spokesperson for the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
As Scotland faces this looming “economic disaster,” the pressure is mounting on both the government and industry to take swift and decisive action to bridge the skills gap and secure the future of the country’s engineering sector.
