The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has published the results of their census, giving a sectoral breakdown and geographical analysis
The ECITB workforce census has analysed data from 1,621 locations and 74,609 workers across 12 sectors.
It was shown that currently, the nuclear sector holds the majority of the ECI workforce at 39.2%, followed by oil and gas at 35.2%, and then renewables at 6.2%.
ECITB workforce census shows an increase is anticipated for CCS
The census shows that there is an anticipated 12% increase coming for the carbon capture and storage ECI workforce over the next three years. This sector also contains a large proportion of workers under 30 at 22% compared to the wider ECI at 17%.
Hydrogen was shown to have the highest number of women working in the sector with 27% of its workforce being female.
The pharmaceuticals sector, despite being the smallest sector (employing just 0.9% of the ECI workforce), had the largest ethnic diversity with 15.4% of the pharmaceutical ECI workforce identifying as being from a minority ethnic background, higher than the 7.5% in the wider workforce.
The ECI workforce working in the oil and gas sector has decreased from 36.7% to 35.2%, but the workforce has still grown in recent years from 30,700 to 33,350.
Age presents a challenge
Oil and gas presents a particular challenge in this regard, as 42% of workers in this sector are aged 50 or older, and only 12% are under 30. Still, employment growth is expected in all sectors, especially in the conventional power generation and the renewables sectors.
Andrew Hockey, chief executive of the ECITB, said: “Our Sectoral Workforce Census report reveals that the ECI workforce in each sector exhibits distinct demographic characteristics.
The reliance on non-UK workers was also analysed and it was found that hydrogen and conventional power generation employ 10-14% non-UK nationals, while pharmaceuticals only employ 1%.
“It provides detailed occupational data and sector-specific hiring challenges, giving us unique insights into workforce capabilities and training needs.
“Collecting this type of detailed data gives not only the ECITB, but all our stakeholders, critical insights into the make-up and future direction of our industry and will allow for evidence-based, targeted initiatives and interventions in each sector.
“It will be a vital resource to help underpin our new strategy for 2026-30, which is set to be launched later this year after industry consultation.”
The census can be read in full here.
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