Workforce in STEM occupations
STEM occupations by region and discipline
A recently published report by the APPG on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM* evidenced that, as an average across 2019, 5.9 million (18%) out of a workforce of 32.8 million worked in STEM occupations. Whilst there was little by way of regional variation in the total percentage, the proportions by STEM discipline notably varied. The most acute variation was amongst workers in Technology roles, where the rates varied from 3% of the workforce in the North East to 8% in London.
* APPG Regional STEM skills inequity: report July 2023
Proportion of workforce in STEM occupations, by region and discipline: 2019
Proportion of STEM workers by region
In terms of where, regionally, the workers with key STEM skills are located, analysis of eight key occupational groupings, with an average collective workforce of 3.1m across April 2022-March 2023, is enlightening. More than half (53%) of these Professional and Associate Professional STEM workers were in just four regions: London (17%), the South East (16%), the North West (10%) and the East of England 10%. At the other end of the spectrum, just 2% of this workforce was resident in Northern Ireland and 3% in the North East of England.