More chemical scientists are needed if the multi-billion-pound sector is to fulfil its potential to outpace wider economic growth and meet sustainability ambitions, warns the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
The RSC’s Future Workforce and Education Pathways report projects the chemical sciences workforce could exceed growth in the wider UK labour market by 30% (6.5% to 5%).
However, there are concerns that the significant financial challenges facing universities threatens the talent pipeline and could impede the country’s ability to meet government objectives.
The learned society has brought forward 13 recommendations, including developing and delivering a more relevant curriculum for those aged 5-19; more accessible, inclusive and vocational routes into chemistry; and increasing the number of people entering the sector with relevant practical skills.
Comprehensive changes to education and skills development in the UK make up the bulk of the 13 recommendations detailed in the new report, released on 30 January, with expert panel discussions taking place later the same day.
Dr Annette Doherty, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “The research underpinning our Future Workforce and Educational Pathways report shows that the sector continues to offer enormous potential for the decade to come and beyond – but only if we take steps now to meet that future potential.
“Education reform is a must to ensure that young people get the best start to their chemistry journey, and we need more inclusive and accessible routes into the sector so that everyone interested in a career in chemistry feels they can pursue their ambitions, regardless of their background.”
The number of university courses in several science subjects has dropped over the past five years, with the number of undergraduate degrees offered in chemistry dropping by more than a quarter since 2019. The University of Hull is planning to close its chemistry department, with other institutions facing tough choices against a backdrop of significant financial threats, which risks restricting the supply of highly skilled workers in an area with proven growth potential.
The RSC has already sought to protect the provision of existing higher education chemistry courses across the UK to encourage a diverse array of students to pursue careers in the sector. And in the report, the organisation says it also wants to see the number of vocational routes into the sector expanded.
As well as pushing for more applied education and training, the body wants digital and sustainability skills to be emphasised in the chemistry curriculum, to prepare students for the demands of modern STEM roles. Research conducted for the report shows that chemistry-related jobs are eight times more likely to ask for green skills than the national average.
The RSC’s report emphasises the need for wider access to chemical science careers, particularly for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, to build a more diverse and skilled workforce, ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Technological advancements, such as AI and machine learning, are already impacting both workers and employers and this is expected to continue as the digital revolution accelerates. Greater collaboration between academia and industry is needed to ensure that those entering the workforce are equipped for the challenges, according to the authors.
While the report notes some differences, it found that both businesses and universities believe many university graduates currently lack the key transferable skills they need entering the workplace.
The burden of training and development should not fall solely on employers and universities, with the learned society also calling for extensive educational reform, starting at an early age for all UK children. It advocates changes to continuous professional development to ensure workers have the skills to maintain the UK’s position as a global science leader.
Production of the report saw the RSC partner with labour force analytics firm Lightcast to explore data trends affecting the industry. The UK-headquartered learned society, which has more than 60,000 members globally, also conducted interviews and research with individuals from across the country’s chemical sciences sector to build a picture of life as a chemical scientist today.