The study from the Sutton Trust and the Bridge Group found that just over one in five (21 per cent) professionals in engineering are from a low socio-economic background, which is higher than doctors (6 per cent), journalists (12 per cent) and professionals in law (13 per cent) – although still lower than the workforce as a whole (29 per cent).
One potential reason for this is that engineering jobs “are far more geographically spread” than other professions, and in particular are less centred in London and the South East.
Previous research by both the Sutton Trust and the Bridge Group has highlighted unequal access to many leading professions, with young people from poorer homes often facing barriers to get a foot in many industries.
The report suggests that other sectors should look to provide opportunities that are more evenly spread throughout the UK, to balance the trend of having to move to London or the South East to get ahead professionally.
However...