The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has today published the UK Semiconductor Workforce Study, a report based on extensive research into the sector. The UKESF is pleased to have contributed to this report.

The report analyses the UK Semiconductor sector in detail and highlights a number of skills challenges including:

  • An aging workforce, with 39% expected to retire in the next 15 years
  • Low female participation, with females making up just a quarter of the overall workforce and 18% of all technical roles
  • The number of UK domiciled students studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering has plateaued, and there is uncertainty in long-term international student retention
  • Alignment between industries skills needs and higher education skills provision
  • Underutilised technical and apprenticeship pathways into the industry

Speaking about the UKESF’s involvement in the research, Stewart Edmondson, Chief Executive, said “We have long championed skills development and the importance of building a future skills pipeline. This is a thoroughly well researched report with detailed analysis. It highlights the scale of the challenge faced by our vital Semiconductor industry, and makes practical, actionable recommendations that collaboratively – working with government, industry and academia – we can implement to ensure a thriving and sustainable sector.”

The UKESF is fully supportive of the report’s recommendations, and there is significant alignment with our strategy and approach. In particular, about strategic interventions to raise awareness about semiconductors in schools, expand the Higher Education pipeline, provide more opportunities for undergraduates to specialise in semiconductors, strengthen industry-academia collaboration and tackling the gender imbalance.

Click here to read the full report.

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