New survey launch: diversity and inclusion in electronics

This new sector-wide survey aims to explore diversity and inclusion across the electronics industry, building a clearer picture of how inclusive the industry currently is, where progress has been made, and what challenges remain. It is open to anyone working in or studying electronics.

According to EngineeringUK, women now represent just 15.7% of the UK technology and engineering workforce – a decline from 16.5% the previous year. This, the report highlights, is mainly concerning a “worrying spike” in women aged 35 to 44 leaving the profession.  Furthermore, it states that there is no comparable trend of this happening in any other sector of the UK workforce.

The reasons for this decline are complex. For one, engineering and electronics remain male-dominated fields, and retention and progression can be impacted by cultural norms, workplace dynamics, and limited support around mental health or caregiving responsibilities.

However, when we zoom out a little further, a 2019 study by EqualEngineers found that fewer than one in three engineers feel included in their working environment, and over a quarter believe their work culture is masculine – an atmosphere which women are twice as likely as men to notice. The same report also found that a majority of engineers feel societal expectations of men are unrealistic, and that men are under pressure to behave in certain socially accepted ways.

Sheryl Miles, Associate Editor at Electronic Specifier, said: “We need a fuller understanding of what inclusion actually feels like on the ground in electronics. Who stays, who leaves, and why? This survey is about listening to real experiences so we can figure out how to build a stronger, more sustainable industry for everyone.”

We are inviting you to complete the short anonymous survey above.

Your insights will help us to gain a greater understanding of how inclusive the electronics industry currently is, and the findings will be used to inform future editorial content and industry discussion. The results will be released at our annual Women in Tech event in November – so keep your eyes and ears tuned for further updates.

Speaking of which, if you want to stay connected with others working to improve inclusion in the sector, you can also join our Women in Tech LinkedIn group.

If you would like to share your own story, or offer input beyond the survey, please contact: Sheryl Miles – sheryl.miles@electronicspecifier.com