Introducing the STEM Returners Index 2021

Today, our brand new annual ‘STEM Returners Index’ has been released and the results of the survey couldn’t speak any louder, now is the time for change.

Our research asked a range of questions to a nationally representative group of more than 750 STEM professionals on a career break. The experiences of these ‘returners’ – who are trying to re-enter the STEM sector – is vital to understanding the positive steps our industry needs to take.

Despite our programmes being taken up by a number of the more progressive STEM organisations, the industry remains 92% white and 94%, male.

Released on International Women in Engineering Day, the survey showed females trying to return to the engineering industry after a career break are more likely to experience recruitment bias than men.

Twenty-seven percent of the females who took part in the index said they feel they have personally experienced bias in recruitment processes due to their gender compared to 8% of men, while 30% of women said they feel they have personally experienced bias in recruitment processes due to childcare responsibilities compared to 6% of men.

Both males (39%) and females (43%) said they have personally experienced bias in recruitment processes due to a perceived lack of recent experience.

Recruitment processes are also working against ethnically diverse groups. STEM professionals from black and ethnic minority groups find it more difficult to return to work, with 67% of respondents saying they are finding it difficult, compared to 57% of White British returners.

This talented pool of professionals is significantly more diverse than the average STEM organisation, and the solution lies with them. We must re-integrate these highly motivated people back into the STEM sectors to make our industry representative.

Natalie Desty, Director of STEM Returners, said: “The UK engineering industry needs to recruit 182,000 engineers annually to keep up with demand – this is not news. But despite this very clear and desperate skills shortage, 61% of STEM professionals on a career break are finding the process of attempting to return to work either difficult or very difficult and women are bearing the brunt of this challenge.

“There is a perception that a career break automatically leads to a deterioration of skills. But the reality is, that many people on a career break keep themselves up to date with their industry, are able to refresh their skills easily when back in work and have developed new transferable skills that would actually benefit their employers.

The STEM Returners Index 2021 is available to view and download below