News

Prospect launches manifesto for STEM skills

3 July 2023

Leading science and engineering trade union Prospect has launched a new manifesto “Agenda for UK STEM” looking at how we should respect, protect, retain and develop the country’s STEM workforce.

The manifesto sets out the benefits of STEM skills: the contribution they have made to the Covid response, their centrality to addressing climate change, and the economic benefits from R&D and innovation. It then examines the current workforce and the forecasted STEM requirements for the future:

  • The Institute for Engineering and Technology has identified a shortfall of 173,000 STEM workers that is already costing the UK economy £1.5bn a year
  • Recent research for DCMS estimated that the UK now needs to find 17,500 new cybersecurity professionals every year to meet growing demand
  • The nuclear industry needs to recruit up to 40,000 new staff by 2030 for nuclear new build and up to 60,000 to return to previous levels of nuclear power output
  • The Government has identified a need for an additional 150,000 R&D workers by 2030 to deliver its goal of making the UK a global “science superpower”

The report identifies a number of challenges to gaining the workforce we need. These cover recruitment, but just as importantly, retention – currently far too many are dropping out of careers at an early stage because of issues including poor pay and a lack of job security. Problems identified include the gender imbalance with women hugely outnumbered in STEM jobs, and also in the overall level of R&D spending with the UK falling behind global competitors.

The report sets out plans in six key areas where improvement is needed for the UK to succeed.

  • Valuing expertise
  • Tackling inequality
  • Retaining talent
  • Investing in every sector and region
  • Nurturing the next generation
  • Building international collaboration

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“Successive governments have made a lot of noise about their commitment to STEM skills, but the UK is still lagging behind in investment and has a huge amount of work to do if it is to meet the demand for jobs in this area.

“As the leading union for science, engineering and R&D, Prospect is well-placed to lead the conversation on how we meet the workforce challenges of the coming years. This manifesto sets out a clear plan for addressing inequality in the sector, and how we can invest smartly to create and retain the skills we need.

“The UK truly has the ability to be a science superpower but only if it takes investment in skills seriously. Warm words are not enough.”