IChemE employment survey highlights recruitment barriers

The Employment Survey gathered responses from 2503 IChemE members and 875 employers between November and December 2025, with participants at all career levels, from students to senior professionals and company owners and directors. The results can help inform both those working in the sector and wider policymakers of the changes needed to meet the UK’s economic growth targets.

Chemical, process and biochemical engineering directly underpin key industrial sectors, from cleantech and sustainability to advanced manufacturing and defence, meaning investing to fill the sectors’ skills gaps now will have positive knock-on effects throughout the industrial landscape. Likewise, overcoming recruitment challenges experienced across the sector will provide long-term stability across the sector and drive future growth.

Forty five per cent of respondents highlighted technical skills shortages specific to their sector, which suggests better access to training is needed industry-wide. Other skills shortages identified include problem solving and critical thinking, adaptability and resilience, understanding of safety and risk management, and digital skills.

On barriers to recruitment, 40 per cent of employer respondents mentioned a lack of mid-career candidates and 22% said the sector suffers from a lack of awareness. These results highlight the need to make chemical engineering a more attractive proposition for those entering higher education and those joining the workforce to fill roles both now and in the future.

“The skills needed across the sector are extremely diverse, covering areas from modelling and simulation, sustainability skills, process design, to process safety and beyond,” explained Yvonne Baker, CEO of IChemE. “It is also clear from the survey that the industry expects to see an even greater shift towards sustainability in the future, with net zero, the circular economy and sustainable processes driving meaningful change.

“Digital transformation is also a key area for future skills with AI, machine learning and automation all cited as areas for development,” continued Baker.

The results also offer evidence-based guidance to the chemical engineers of the future, sharing insight on the skills that employers prioritise when hiring graduates. According to participants, the top three skills valued were knowledge of core fundamentals and theory, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt and learn.

The Employment Survey provides evidence-based insight into how the sector is changing and responding to both domestic and global challenges while highlighting the areas where work still needs to be done to support economic growth ambitions. 

www.icheme.org