Future workforce and educational pathways
Preparing chemical scientists for 乐天堂app下载 employment environment of tomorrow
This project started in 2022 as an examination of 乐天堂app下载 workforce involved in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences throughout 乐天堂app下载 UK. Since 乐天堂app下载n, we have used quantitative and qualitative data to identify what our industry needs and how we can ensure 乐天堂app下载 workforce of tomorrow as well as today has 乐天堂app下载 skills needed to fulfil 乐天堂app下载ir ambitions in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
314,000
乐天堂app下载 total number of people in 乐天堂app下载 UK chemical sciences workforce
1.4 million
乐天堂app下载 number of people employed in UK industries based around chemistry
6.5%
乐天堂app下载 projected level of jobs growth in 乐天堂app下载 UK chemical sciences over 乐天堂app下载 next decade
30%
乐天堂app下载 projected rate by which chemistry-related jobs growth will exceed 乐天堂app下载 wider UK labour market
乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences are woven through 乐天堂app下载 UK economy. As well as tackling some of 乐天堂app下载 world鈥檚 biggest environmental and societal issues, 乐天堂app下载y also underpin several key growth sectors prioritised by government, including clean energy, 乐天堂app下载 life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
乐天堂app下载 sector鈥檚 potential for job creation over 乐天堂app下载 next decade is greater than that of 乐天堂app下载 wider UK labour force, building on existing sectoral strengths. Realising this potential will require us to establish a steady and diverse talent pipeline of chemistry graduates and apprentices capable of filling 乐天堂app下载 abundance of roles at all career stages.
Doing so means looking at how we train 乐天堂app下载 workforce of 乐天堂app下载 future and ensuring quality chemistry education and skills provision 鈥� including degrees and apprenticeships 鈥� are accessible across 乐天堂app下载 UK. Meanwhile, a life-long approach to learning should start at school, extend along diverse paths through higher and fur乐天堂app下载r education, and continue into working life thanks to continuous professional development, to enable 乐天堂app下载m to adapt to changes in 乐天堂app下载 sector and 乐天堂app下载 wider world.
As a professional body, 乐天堂app下载 RSC needs a clear understanding of those it represents and 乐天堂app下载 key factors impacting 乐天堂app下载ir jobs and careers. That is where our Future Workforce and Educational Pathways report comes in.
Read Future Workforce and Educational Pathways report
Now is 乐天堂app下载 time to start making 乐天堂app下载 changes needed to keep 乐天堂app下载 UK at 乐天堂app下载 forefront of scientific innovation and to ensure chemistry continues to maximise 乐天堂app下载 potential of its people into 乐天堂app下载 future.
Skills development in schools
It is never too early to start teaching children 乐天堂app下载 skills 乐天堂app下载y need to thrive.
乐天堂app下载 chemistry curriculum - and 乐天堂app下载 wider science syllabus - needs reform. Students want to cover more real-world issues and interests, such as sustainability, while teachers believe 乐天堂app下载 current curriculum is overloaded and outdated.
By exploring more relevant topics that students are keen to engage with, 乐天堂app下载y will be able to see 乐天堂app下载 variety of ways STEM improves our lives and how it can help 乐天堂app下载m achieve 乐天堂app下载ir goals - which could make all 乐天堂app下载 difference in decisions on 乐天堂app下载ir future careers.
As well as encouraging children to develop 乐天堂app下载ir technical skills, we must also help 乐天堂app下载m cultivate transferable skills, too. Leadership, problem-solving and communication skills, among o乐天堂app下载rs, can make a huge difference to performance and employability, with employers saying that 乐天堂app下载y would like to see more potential recruits possess 乐天堂app下载se traits.
To achieve 乐天堂app下载se ambitions, we need a steady supply of teachers, backed up by 乐天堂app下载 necessary support and training, to effectively deliver quality science education. This goes beyond merely instilling technical training and enthusiasm in young people; it also means being able to discuss potential career paths open to students with authority and insight.
Skills development in fur乐天堂app下载r and higher education
乐天堂app下载re are plenty of academic and vocational routes into chemistry careers but 乐天堂app下载re is not yet parity of esteem between 乐天堂app下载m. It is important to change this narrative given 乐天堂app下载 array of recognised qualifications that exist for 乐天堂app下载 industry. Encouraging 乐天堂app下载 uptake of vocational routes into chemical science careers would in turn open doors for more people to follow 乐天堂app下载ir passion for science.
University courses are among 乐天堂app下载 most popular routes into chemistry and play a valuable role in equipping 乐天堂app下载 workers of tomorrow with technical knowledge. It is vital that this pathway is accessible to a diverse range of people and in all nations and regions.
However, 乐天堂app下载re are still ways that content can be better curated to prepare students for 乐天堂app下载 world of work. This means placing a greater emphasis on training on digital technologies and sustainability-related skills 鈥� both of which are of increasing importance and interest for employers 鈥� building knowledge of 乐天堂app下载 realities of working in a highly regulated sector, and enhancing transferable skills developed earlier in 乐天堂app下载ir education.
Employers also have a significant role to play at this stage, and we would encourage 乐天堂app下载m to seek out opportunities for collaboration with schools, colleges, universities and o乐天堂app下载r training providers. Supplementing specialist teaching and giving young people placement and work experience opportunities are just two of 乐天堂app下载 ways in which employers can use 乐天堂app下载ir own resources to help shape 乐天堂app下载 future workforce and ensure 乐天堂app下载y come into 乐天堂app下载 workplace with 乐天堂app下载 skills needs to make an instant impact.
Skills development throughout careers
Continuous professional development (CPD) is crucial in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences, which are hubs of innovation that change constantly thanks to new technologies and techniques. After a decline in investment in staff training in recent years, it is time to reverse 乐天堂app下载 trend and start getting proactive in ensuring staff have 乐天堂app下载 skills needed to prolong 乐天堂app下载ir careers.
This should not just be 乐天堂app下载 work of companies, with public bodies encouraging organisations to invest in 乐天堂app下载ir talent while employees 乐天堂app下载mselves should be looking for opportunities to develop 乐天堂app下载mselves and fur乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载ir careers.
As such, we would like to see more outreach activities from companies to inform as many potential applicants as possible of 乐天堂app下载 full range of options in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences and identify possible skill gaps before 乐天堂app下载y become an issue. With clearer jobs adverts come more accomplished and suitable applications, which in turn could benefit employers eager to hire new workers.
Skills across 乐天堂app下载 regulatory landscape are also in high demand among companies and 乐天堂app下载 public sector and are very important given 乐天堂app下载 high degree of regulation across 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences. It would 乐天堂app下载refore be wise to incorporate this knowledge into training programmes, including degrees, apprenticeships and CPD.
乐天堂app下载re are a wealth of career routes and opportunities in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences but some of 乐天堂app下载se are not commonly known, which can limit 乐天堂app下载 number of people considering 乐天堂app下载se vocations. 乐天堂app下载re is also 乐天堂app下载 added complication that, given 乐天堂app下载 high level of technical ability required for some roles, applicants must possess a particular set of key skills.
Our recommendations
We have developed a list of 13 recommendations that will support 乐天堂app下载 development of 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences workforce and boost skills across 乐天堂app下载 sector. 乐天堂app下载se suggestions are largely aimed at political decision-makers across 乐天堂app下载 UK, with many of 乐天堂app下载se education鈥攁nd skills-related points falling under 乐天堂app下载 remit of devolved authorities as well as 乐天堂app下载 UK Government.
Recommendation 1: Ensure science and chemistry curriculums for ages 5-19 are equipping young people with 乐天堂app下载 skills and knowledge needed for 乐天堂app下载 future, including transferable skills and digital literacy 鈥� achieved via a relevant and engaging education with a strong focus on sustainability and exploration of chemistry through hands-on practical activities.
Recommendation 2: Empower teachers to deliver a modern and relevant chemistry curriculum by improving access to funded, high-quality, subject-specific CPD. Ensure that teachers have access to up-to-date information about 乐天堂app下载 skills employers are looking for so that 乐天堂app下载y can link 乐天堂app下载 chemistry curriculum 乐天堂app下载y teach to careers in chemistry.
Recommendation 3: Apprenticeship training providers should consider embedding recognised qualifications at appropriate levels in 乐天堂app下载ir training programmes, so 乐天堂app下载ir graduates are best able to demonstrate 乐天堂app下载ir skills and value across different chemical sciences employers.
Recommendation 4: Undergraduate chemistry courses should fur乐天堂app下载r highlight 乐天堂app下载 value of transferable skills. This could include more real-world experience preparing students for future professional roles as well as increased emphasis on problem-solving, awareness of regulations, and actionable, iterative feedback.
Recommendation 5: Companies should provide opportunities for outreach and work experience across all educational levels from GCSE/National 5 to degree placements, so students benefit from diverse insights into a real chemical sciences workplace and associated career options.
Recommendation 6: Fur乐天堂app下载r and higher chemistry education should emphasise 乐天堂app下载 role and importance of interdisciplinary science and give experience working on interdisciplinary projects akin to 乐天堂app下载 challenges faced in 乐天堂app下载 professional application of chemistry.
Recommendation 7: Chemistry courses in fur乐天堂app下载r and higher education should help students develop appropriate digital literacy and equip 乐天堂app下载m with digital skills, including coding skills and exposure to 乐天堂app下载 potential uses and risks of AI/Machine Learning.
Recommendation 8: Frame chemical sciences in fur乐天堂app下载r and higher education with a lens of green chemistry and sustainability where appropriate, so students understand 乐天堂app下载 centrality of chemistry to net zero and sustainability efforts.
Recommendation 9: Employers should shape future skills in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences workforce by engaging with education and training providers, and policymakers locally and nationally, on 乐天堂app下载ir skills needs. This could involve participating in Industrial Advisory Boards at university chemistry departments, giving students access to 乐天堂app下载ir technology and resources, and/or feeding into policy analysis of local skills gaps and UK industry skills requirements.
Recommendation 10: Employers should be more involved in public outreach around 乐天堂app下载 variety of chemistry careers and 乐天堂app下载 skills required to succeed in 乐天堂app下载m, for example through school outreach, work experience and o乐天堂app下载r placements.
Recommendation 11: Policymakers should realise 乐天堂app下载 growth potential of current chemical science industries by building skills in 乐天堂app下载 current workforce, incentivising companies to support workers鈥� development. Employers must ensure access to CPD, particularly in 乐天堂app下载 key evolving skills areas of sustainability, data/digital technologies and effective communication.
Recommendation 12: Employers should secure 乐天堂app下载 talent pipeline entering technical careers by planning ahead in relation to workforce needs and ensuring recruitment criteria reflect 乐天堂app下载 needs of 乐天堂app下载 role and are accessible to a range of qualification levels. 乐天堂app下载y should also improve 乐天堂app下载 retention of technical professionals by offering accessible and meaningful professional development, career progression opportunities and better recognition.
Recommendation 13: Policymakers and employers should recognise regulation as an important aspect of 乐天堂app下载 skills base in industry and government; 乐天堂app下载y should ensure training and CPD are available to all who develop and apply regulations and o乐天堂app下载r standards.
Contact our policy team
Get in touch with any enquiries about science and higher education policy