Shortage of engineers in industry

The total number of vacancies has doubled from 2007 levels, according to the research. The study, by recruitment firm The Works, also showed that employers are willing to pay more for highly experienced people across job roles ranging from contract managers to design engineers and metallurgists, as competition has created upward pressure on pay levels.

The average salary of those with a minimum of five years of experience in the engineering sector grew by £11,000, from £39,000 in 2011 to £50,000 in 2012, it claimed.

Salaries for lower skilled manufacturing roles, such as turners and grinders, with up to two years’ experience, remained static over the last 12 months. Middle-ranged jobs, with three to four years experience, saw a drop of £1,200 in average salary for 2011 earning £30,600, to £29,400 in 2012.

Andy Izzard, director at The Works, said: “The financial crisis that struck in 2007 fundamentally altered the economic landscape and the wages on offer to engineering professionals. Pay rates were reduced due to the unprecedented availability of candidates.

“Engineering and manufacturing recovered through investment in innovation and technology and now as a result, companies are not only having to pay engineers higher salaries to compete in the marketplace, but are also having to be more flexible in their requirements to accommodate a dwindling talent pool.”

Craig Burton, MD of The Works, said the shortage of engineers will continue for the next three to five years.