New figures reveal a significant increase in the number of women studying for engineering degrees in Northern Ireland. Over the last decade, female student enrolment in Mechanical Engineering at Queen's University has risen by 40%. Similarly, Ulster University has experienced an almost doubling of women studying engineering during the same period.
Despite this growth in education, employment statistics show that the engineering and wider manufacturing industries in Northern Ireland are still predominantly male. Women currently account for approximately 11% of engineering roles and about 23% of the manufacturing workforce in the region.
A group of women working in the Mid Ulster engineering industry is actively raising awareness about career opportunities for women in the sector. Lorraine O'Neill, Senior Logistics Manager at Powerscreen, noted that when she started in 1994, fewer than 10 women worked at her firm, which now employs over 300 females across Northern Ireland. She also highlighted that 50% of her company's senior leadership team are now female, a significant change from over 30 years ago when there were no women in senior management.
Professor Juliana Early from Queen's University's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering believes the increase in women studying engineering degrees signals a shift. Rachel Pattison, head of operations for Tierco Healthcare, suggests that encouraging young women in STEM subjects from an early age is crucial for greater gender diversity.