GENDER PAY GAP IS SMALLER IN ENGINEERING


Research by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) indicates that the gender pay gap is smaller in the engineering profession than the UK employee average. The mean (10.8%) and median (11.4%) pay gap for engineers in the sample analysed is around two-thirds the national average. Although the gap is less than feared,


the report finds that closing it will take concerted effort within the engineering profession. One well-recognised issue that is contributing to the gap is the lack of women going into the profession, and while attempts have been made to address this, progress is disappointingly slow. The report recommends actions that go


beyond addressing this initial recruitment challenge through addressing the retention and progression of women to more senior and higher paid roles. The actions it recommends as most effective include implementing transparent pay structures and grades, reviewing promotion criteria and introducing flexible working options for senior roles. The report confirms that


underrepresentation of women in senior roles – rather than unequal pay – is the single largest cause of the pay gap.


EIS FOCUSES ON ELECTRIFICATION


This year’s annual Engineering Integrity Society (EIS) event is to be held once again at the Silverstone race circuit at the end of March. The event will comprise an exhibition, networking opportunities and the mini-seminar series, which this year looks at electrification of transport. Within the mini-seminar series,


representatives from companies such as Williams Advanced Engineering, Ansible Motion, Coventry University and Bombardier will cover topics ranging from the use of driver-in-the-loop simulation for early validation of electric vehicles to the use of battery propulsion for trains. According to Dyrr Ardash of Williams


Advanced Engineering, automotive focused industries are adopting an increasing trend towards electrification in response to the growing challenges of population growth, urbanisation and climate change.


❱❱ The manufacturing sector, as well as professional, scientific & technical, are seeing high demand for computing skills when recruiting staff


MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY DEMANDS DIGITAL SKILLS


According to Gov.uk analysis into skills requirements in industry and commerce, the manufacturing sector is second only to the information and communications industry in having a high demand for people with digital skills. Gov.uk analysed 8 million job


advertisements to discover where the requirements were for people with technical skills and knowledge in computing as well as relevant digital credentials. At each end of the requirements


spectrum, the results were unsurprising with information and communication having the highest requirement and human health & social care having the lowest. It also should not be surprising that


manufacturing is also near the top of the list as the industry becomes more


intensely digital and the skills of workers in all disciplines become more aligned to the industry’s computational needs. The Gov.uk research shows 69 per cent


of manufacturing job advertisements require specific digital skills as do a similar number (64 per cent) of professional, scientific and technical jobs. According to Joseph Scott of The


Knowledge Academy, most industries have now been revolutionised by technology and companies need employees who can comfortably use different digital tools, programmes and software to drive business performance as well as achieve set objectives. “Those entering the job market need to


be aware of this, as this research clearly shows that certain industries are more demanding of particular digital skills than others,” he said.


February 2020 /// Testing & Test Houses /// 39


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