In the UK, 60% of employers report recruitment of engineering and technical staff is the biggest anticipated barrier to achieving business objectives over the next three years, according to the 2019 Skills and Demand in Industry report released this week by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

The survey is based on telephone interviews with 701 engineering and technology employers across the UK.

“As the UK continues to go through a period of economic uncertainty, the skills shortage in engineering remains an ongoing concern for engineering companies in the UK,” said Joanna Cox, head of policy at the IET.

Looking at the shortage of engineers, 53% of firms are concerned it is a threat to their business.

The report also found that 48% report difficulties in finding workers with the right skills when recruiting, and only 20% expect the supply of engineering and technical skills to improve.

Still, the report found that 31% of employers expanded their engineering and technology workforce over the last three years.

“Companies are taking action to reduce the skills shortages and skill gaps, however, there is a lot more to be done,” Cox said. “We’ve found that in many key areas the results are worse than they were to be in our 2017 survey — more companies report difficulties finding the skills they need in the external labour market when trying to recruit; the shortage of engineering or technical skills at a professional level is a mounting problem; and there has also been a significant decrease in companies providing training at a professional level.”