As a sector, engineering shares many common traits underneath the umbrella that includes technology, science and maths, but one in particular: we all struggle to attract a level of diversity within our workforce that matches the balance of that in society.
Except perhaps in one area: neurodiversity.
I say “perhaps” because with acknowledged levels of a lack of formal diagnosis it’s hard to quote precise numbers, but studies estimate that between 14% and 20% of the UK population is neurodivergent, yet the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) published a survey in 2023 that not only stated that 19% of respondents identified as definitely or possibly neurodivergent but goes on to say that in the report’s opinion, this number is still an underestimate of the true number within engineering.
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Neurodivergent is an umbrella term, referring to individuals whose brain functions differently from the neurotypical norm, and most of us would be able to name ADHD, autism and dyslexia as three examples, but these three are appraised to make up only between 13% and 27% of neurodivergence in the UK. The balance consists of perhaps less well known - and understood - examples and includes dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia,........