Engineering Labour Force in the United Kingdom

Engineering Labour Force in the United Kingdom Engineering Labour Force What Employers Need to Know Rates of Pay Where to Recruit 1 The United Kingdom (U.K.) – England, Scotland, Many technicians and technologists, though not Engineering Wales and Northern Ireland – has the third- all, will meet the competency requirements for largest engineering labour force in Europe (behind voluntary certification with the Association of Labour Germany and France), with more than 1.16 million Science and Engineering Technology Professionals engineering workers. There are slightly fewer of Alberta (ASET). Force engineers per capita in the U.K. than in Alberta. Likelihood of Immigrating Energy Industry Experience Younger workers are more likely to consider Many engineers in the U.K. have experience in international relocation; 29 per cent of engineers in the energy industry, including the oil and gas the U.K. are under age 35.2 and petrochemicals sectors. In 2010, 15 per Foreign workers comprise a small portion of the cent of registered engineers1 and 21 per cent of U.K. engineering labour force (4 per cent), but unregistered engineers in the U.K. worked in the represent a growing share of people migrating out energy industry. By comparison, fewer than five per of the country. As of 2010, non-British citizens cent of engineers in Germany and France work in represented 65 per cent of long-term migrants the energy sector. leaving the U.K., up from 43 per cent in 2005. Professional Requirements When recruiting engineers and geologists in the U.K., employers should target those who meet the requirements established by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). Many, but not all, engineers working in the U.K. will have the education and experience required for professional licensing in Alberta. Many, though not all, engineers working in the U.K. will have the education and experience required to obtain professional licensure in Alberta. 1Refers to engineers registered with the U.K. Engineering Council or one of the Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) in the U.K. See Section on Recruiting Qualified Engineers for more information. 2See European Engineering Report 2007, FEANI 1 Figure 1. Engineering Ireland 23.3 Labour Force UK 37.1 per 1,000 Workers in the Alberta** 40.9 Labour Force by Country, 2010* France 43.2 Netherlands 44.6 Germany 46.7 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 Engineering Workers per 1,000 Persons in the Labour Force * Note: Figures for Alberta are based on the 2006 Census of Canada. **Alberta figures include several categories of engineers classified as “Other.” Without them, the engineering labour force is significantly smaller. Sources: U.K. Labour Force Survey; European Social Survey; Census of Canada 2006; RDA Global Analysis. Figure 2. Share 70% of Long-Term International 65% Out-Migrants from the U.K. who are 60% non-British Citizens 55% Share of Long-Term 50% International Out-Migrants 45% that are Non-British Citizens 40% 5 8 8 7 9 9 0 6 6 5 6 7 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - l t r r r v c y n n g p g b u c p a a o e a a u u e u e J A O J J M F M N A D S A M Sources: United Kingdom International Passenger Survey (IPS); estimates of long-term international migration, rolling annual data to Q4 2010. 2 Engineers and Geoscientists although APEGA will conduct an individual What According to Alberta law, to practice engineering, assessment of each applicant. In order to gain geology or geophysics independently in Alberta, licensure in Alberta, all applicants must: Employers a worker must be licensed by APEGA. Unlicensed 1. Take the professional practice exam and show workers may practice engineering, but only under relevant knowledge of Albertan law and ethics Need to the supervision of a licensed engineer. Similar 2. Obtain one year of Canadian experience; they rules apply to internationally educated engineers. can apply and gain conditional approval before Know They may be permitted to work in Alberta without doing so a license, provided that they work under the 3. Be competent in English supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer 4. Provide character references (P.Eng). In order to practice engineering, geology or 5. Possess Canadian Citizenship or Permanent geophysics independently, internationally educated Resident status; an applicant not possessing workers must have their credentials evaluated by either may apply as a Foreign Licensee APEGA to determine whether or not they meet the To learn more about APEGA’s licensing requirements for licensure. requirements, see www.apega.ca. Since Canada has a mutual recognition agreement with the U.K., Chartered Engineers are likely to be able to obtain a license to practice in Alberta, In order to practice engineering, geology or geophysics independently, internationally educated workers must have their credentials evaluated by APEGA to determine whether or not they meet the requirements for licensure. 3 Technicians and Technologists Registered vs. Unregistered Technicians and technologists do not need licenses The U.K. Engineering Council estimates that about to practice in Alberta, but may voluntarily apply for half of all engineers who could qualify for registration certification from ASET. ASET uses a competency- have done so and obtained a professional based evaluation to assess the qualifications of qualification such as Chartered Engineer (CEng; internationally educated individuals. Successful similar to a Professional Engineer in Alberta), applicants must have an appropriate combination Incorporated Engineer (IEng), Engineering Technician of post-secondary education in their field and (EngTech) or ICT Technician (ICTTech). practical experience. Registered and unregistered engineering workers Many European bachelor’s degrees are awarded work alongside one another in the U.K. and can have after three years. Workers holding them would likely similar roles and responsibilities. Foreign credential qualify for technologist or technician certification recognition in Alberta will be easiest for workers with ASET, while those with lower qualifications may who are registered as Chartered Engineers (CEng) qualify at the technician level. Candidates seeking in the U.K. or who have similar qualifications that ASET certification generally require: would meet the requirements for registration with 1. At least two years of professional experience, the Engineering Council. Approximately half of all including one year of Canadian experience unregistered engineers commonly work in energy 2. Completion of the professional practices exam and manufacturing industries in the U.K., with the 3. Three verifiable references balance working in construction and other industries. 4. The ability to work in English For more information, see www.engc.org.uk. 5. Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status To learn more about ASET’s certification requirements, see www.aset.ab.ca. Foreign credential recognition in Alberta will be easiest for workers who are registered as Chartered Engineers (CEng) in the U.K. or who have similar qualifications that would meet the requirements for registration with the U.K. Engineering Council. 4 Fact Sheets Fact sheets on hiring internationally trained workers in engineering-related occupations can be found at www.albertacanada.com/immigration/publications.aspx. Follow the links below for more information on hiring for specific occupations: Hiring Architectural Technologists or Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Chemical Engineers from the United Kingdom Hiring Civil Engineers from the United Kingdom Hiring Civil Engineering Technologists or Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Drafting Technologists or Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Electical Engineers from the United Kingdom Hiring Electrical or Electronics Technologists or Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Electronic Service Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Engineering Managers from the United Kingdom Hiring Geoscientists from the United Kingdom Hiring Geoscience Technologists or Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Industrial or Manufacturing Engineers from the United Kingdom Hiring Mechanical Engineers from the United Kingdom Hiring Mechanical Engineering Technologists or Technicians from the United Kingdom Hiring Metallurgical or Materials Engineers from the United Kingdom Hiring Mining Engineers from the United Kingdom 5 Table 1. U.K. Titles for Engineering Occupations and Related Professional Organizations Canadian Engineering Professional Occupations Similar Occupations/Titles in the U.K. Organizations Chartered Engineers (CEng) often hold management positions in industry. CEngs Engineering Managers holding positions of significant responsibility in their field for five or more years are N/A eligible for Fellow membership in the PEIs that offer it. Civil Engineers Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Civil Engineer (MICE) Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Institution of Mechanical Mechanical Engineers Chartered Engineer (CEng), Member IMechE (MIMechE) Engineers (IMechE) Electrical and Electronics Institution of Engineering and Chartered Engineer (CEng), Fellow (FIET) or Member (MIET) Engineers Technology (IET) Chartered Chemical Engineer, Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Chemical Institution of Chemical Engineers Chemical Engineers Engineer and Member of IChemE (MIChemE) (IChemE) Industrial and Manufacturing Institution of Engineering and Chartered Engineer (CEng),

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