Seventy per cent of engineers would prefer hybrid or remote working

Almost two thirds of respondents to The Engineer’s 2022 Top Employers survey express a preference for hybrid or remote working.

With COVID lockdowns, social distancing and mask-wearing now largely in the rear-view mirror in the UK, some engineering employers are looking at winding-down hybrid working arrangements that were introduced during the darkest days of the pandemic.

However, whilst many companies might wish to see a swing back to more traditional working practices, engineers appear far from enthusiastic about a return to regular office life. Indeed, according to the findings of The Engineer’s 2022 Top Employers survey, 69 per cent of engineers prefer a hybrid working arrangement, whilst just 29 per cent would welcome a full return to an office-based working life.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENGINEER'S 2022 TOP EMPLOYERS SUPPLEMENT

Carried out by The Engineer earlier this autumn, the survey - which is sponsored by engineering recruitment specialist Matchtech - received responses from almost 500 engineering professionals working across 19 different sectors.

With skilled engineers in huge demand across all areas of industry, the survey was conducted to help industry recruiters better understand the expectations of the engineering job seeker

Further analysis of the survey findings is published in The Engineer’s 2022 Top Employers Supplement, a special digital issue featuring careers information from some of The Engineer’s key job advertisers which provide a useful snapshot of skills requirements and opportunities at some of the UK’s biggest engineering employers.

Other key survey findings included:

  • 86 per cent of engineers prefer permanent roles
  • 70 per cent expect to stay in industry for the next five years
  • 48 per cent are open to the idea of a new role

The survey also asked respondents to identify their top engineering employers. Whilst a large number of companies were referenced the following companies took the top ten slots:

1 Rolls-Royce Plc

2 BAE Systems

3 Airbus

4 Jaguar Land Rover

5 Balfour Beatty

6 BP

7 Arup

9 Atkins

9 Babcock

10 Dyson / JCB/ Siemens