A JAM Recruitment survey of 260 candidates has shown that the Quality Engineering industry could well be heading for a retirement time bomb, and revealed that the profession is rapidly ageing and dominated by men.
The survey, which was sent out to JAM’s extensive database of Quality Engineering candidates, showed that three quarters (74 per cent) of Quality Engineering professionals were male and that nearly a third (31 per cent) have over 21 years of experience.
Respondents listed the challenges and variety within the role, and the range of people you work with in an average day as the most attractive things about the job. Similarly, 59 per cent of professionals said that they were optimistic about the future of the industry, and 40 per cent expected the sector to further diversify as the UK recovers from the economic downturn.
While the vast majority were satisfied with their roles, a lack of support from senior management and resistance from co-workers in fully driving through improvement strategies, were identified as key frustrations of quality engineering professionals.
JAM, which has a specialist Quality Engineering Recruitment team currently have over [30,000+] Quality Engineering professionals on their database, and the firm says that, as the UK economy increasingly competes on quality rather than cost, demand for Quality Engineering professionals will remain high among their clients.
Lee Cartney, Manager of the Quality and Manufacturing team at JAM, said: “Quality Engineering professionals are in a very strong position at the moment, and we’re seeing demand across the board.
“The cloud on the horizon is that the majority of Quality Engineering candidates are male, and the workforce is ageing without being replenished. Unless more is done to even the balance between male and female Quality Engineering professionals, and attract new “up and coming” talent, the sector could be facing a retirement time bomb.
“As our economy moves towards recovery, Quality Engineering professionals will become increasingly important to the UK’s manufacturing sector, but the question is, will there be enough talent to go round?”
Issued on behalf of JAM by Citypress.
Notes to Editors:
JAM Recruitment was founded in November 2000 by CEO John Morris. With its headquarters in Manchester and offices in London, JAM operates on a national and international scale. To date, it has placed c.8000 staff and is a trusted recruitment partner to some of the UK’s biggest employers.
Press information:
Sarah Carlin
Citypress
JAM Recruitment Limited
Marsland House
Marsland Road, Sale
Cheshire, UK
Zip: M33 3AQ
Tel: 0161 235 0328
Email: sarah.carlin@citypress.co.uk
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