The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP):Labour Market Intelligence Refresh

In spring 2023, we undertook a Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) study in the electrotechnical sector for TESP. This study sought to provide an updated picture of the sector in the wake of significant changes in the past few years (including the Covid-19 pandemic, and the continuing impact of EU Exit, among others). This research provided refreshed intelligence to update LMI gathered in our previous studies in 2018 and 2020. The research provided an up-to-date estimate of the size and demographic make-up of the sector’s workforce, examined challenges employers face relating to recruitment and retention, and explored current and future skills requirements, including the future of the sector with regard to technological change and the Net Zero agenda.

Our research methodology comprised:

• desk research involving detailed analysis of official statistics to provide an up-to-date estimate on the size and demography of the sector’s workforce,

• a telephone survey of electrotechnical employers, and

• qualitative depth interviews with employers.

We drew the quantitative and qualitative strands together to relay a clear narrative of the key challenges faced by the industry. In our national (UK-wide) report, we presented a series of recommendations for TESP’s consideration to tackle the two biggest challenges the industry faces: attracting a sufficient number of high-quality recruits, and upskilling the workforce to meet changing technological needs. We also produced a series of 12 reports for each devolved nation and English region, as well as a UK-level infographic. TESP is using the findings to inform ongoing sector support for skills and training, and retention and recruitment.

Our report is published here, and our infographic is here.