The talent shortage in UK trade sectors is getting worse. While job demand surges across engineering, the apprenticeship system that should be feeding these trades is failing to deliver, according to new data.
The ‘Apprenticeship Gap Report’ found that the engineering trade is facing the largest deficit across all sectors analysed, with a 145:1 ratio representing a gap of just over 46,000 unfilled positions.
The research, created by power tool accessories specialist DART Tool Group, analysed data from the Department for Education, the Office of National Statistics (ONS), and job board site Reed across six UK trade sectors, revealing where the skills crisis is most severe, why training pathways are under strain, and what strategic actions employers can take to strengthen their future workforce.
Across all trades analysed, there are just 809 apprenticeship openings to fill over 86,000 current job vacancies, a ratio of 106 jobs competing for every single apprenticeship place.
Top engineering apprenticeships, by deficit
Hardest hit within the engineering sector are engineering maintenance specialists, with nearly 550 vacancies for every one apprentice who qualifies, and only 34% of apprentices completing their programme in the past year. Despite this, apprenticeship starts have risen by 1.5% year-on-year, and by 38% since 2021/2022.
Similarly, mechanical engineering roles face a 488:1 deficit, and have seen an 18% drop in starts since 2021/2022. This comes as more than half (56%) of the starts succeeded in achieving the apprenticeship in the 2024/2025 intake, highlighting the continued interest in the trade.
Certain specialist trades, such as fitters and building services engineers, are facing lower talent shortages than other trades, with 73 and 47 job openings per apprenticeship completions, respectively. However, persistently low completion rates at 27% and 22% mean these roles are at risk of restricting the pipeline of qualified workers.
The trade that saw the largest decline in starts is the more generalised engineer role, which saw a decline of 83% of starts year-on-year, and a decline of 97% change in starts between 2021/2022 and 2024/2025.
Certain areas of expertise are seeing an ageing workforce, with research showing that 20% of engineers will retire in the next five years and, until then, are looking to move towards more managerial roles and those that are less hands-on.
This creates a gap of its own as younger apprentices enter the industry needing mentors with up-to-date technical knowledge, but many experienced workers have stepped away from the technical side of the role.
However, within the engineering industry, the report’s data shows that less than half of the apprentices completed their programmes on average in 2024/2025, a notable drop from the 50% that completed the previous year.
Average apprenticeship completion rates across industries and top roles
Ryan Paterson, Managing Director at DART Tool Group, said: “The findings from our Apprenticeship Gap Report have demonstrated that, with a stronger, more effective apprenticeship system and active encouragement and promotion of trade industry jobs, the risk of a widening skills gap can be reduced.
“The engineering sector is facing some of the toughest shortages in recent years, with our data finding a deficit of 145:1. By partnering with local colleges, addressing misconceptions about trade roles, and providing flexible on-site learning, businesses can gradually fill the positions needed to meet sector targets.
“Bridging the labour market gap demands smarter workforce planning, better training frameworks, and professional-grade site tools that enable apprentices to complete their programmes, master technical skills, and build a stronger and more confident workforce without delaying projects further.”
