Economy · Jobs & pay · 17 October 2026
Skills shortages persist in UK manufacturing sector
House of Commons Library has published findings indicating that skills shortages remain a persistent barrier for UK manufacturers. In 2024, manufacturing recorded the joint third-highest proportion of skill-shortage vacancies of any sector. The figures are based on a sample survey and represent estimates rather than exact counts.
House of Commons Library has reported that skills shortages continue to affect the UK manufacturing sector, particularly within advanced manufacturing. The publication notes that these shortages have been a persistent barrier to growth for manufacturers since at least 2010. Advanced manufacturing is defined as industries using advanced science and technology to make products, such as aerospace and battery manufacturing.
Figures from a survey of 22,000 employers show that 34% of manufacturing vacancies were difficult to fill due to a lack of skills, compared with 27% across the wider UK economy. An estimated 17,800 skill-shortage vacancies existed in manufacturing, accounting for 7% of all such vacancies in the UK. Manufacturers increasingly require digital and technological skills alongside traditional technical skills, with 49% citing cybersecurity, 48% citing AI, and 45% citing automation and robotics as requirements.
The report identifies 25 priority occupations for advanced manufacturing, noting that 71% of these were in elevated or critical demand. By comparison, 51% of all occupations assessed by Skills England in 2025 were in elevated or critical demand. Competition for skilled workers in engineering and digital occupations from other sectors is cited as a contributing factor. Views on the education system are divided, with 53% of manufacturers believing it could provide enough skilled workers and 39% disagreeing.
The data presented are estimates derived from a sample survey rather than exact counts. These findings apply to the UK manufacturing sector, with specific focus on advanced manufacturing industries, and reflect conditions reported during the 2024 period. The publication does not provide specific timelines for when these shortages might be resolved or detailed policy responses from the government.
Written by StreetOwl from House of Commons Library’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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