Why UK Manufacturers Are Struggling to Hire Automation Engineers

The United Kingdom is facing a significant and worsening shortage of automation engineers. According to Make UK's 2025 skills survey, 78% of manufacturers report difficulty recruiting for automation and controls roles — up from 64% just two years earlier. For companies trying to modernise their production facilities, adopt Industry 4.0 technologies, or simply maintain existing automated systems, finding qualified engineers has become one of their most pressing business challenges.

The Scale of the Problem

The numbers paint a stark picture. The UK needs an estimated 20,000 additional automation engineers by 2028 to meet demand from manufacturing investment, infrastructure upgrades, and the energy transition. Yet the pipeline of new graduates entering the field covers barely a third of this requirement. The result is intense competition for experienced talent, rising salary expectations, and extended time-to-hire that delays critical projects.

Root Causes of the Shortage

An Ageing Workforce

A significant proportion of the UK's automation engineering workforce is approaching retirement. Many of the engineers who built and programmed the first generation of PLC-controlled manufacturing systems in the 1990s and 2000s are now in their late 50s and 60s. As they retire, they take decades of institutional knowledge with them.

Insufficient Training Pipeline

UK universities produce relatively few graduates with the specific combination of electrical, software, and mechanical skills that automation engineering requires. The discipline sits between traditional electrical engineering and computer science, and many degree programmes do not adequately prepare graduates for the realities of industrial automation.

Competition from Other Sectors

Talented engineers with programming skills are increasingly attracted to software development, fintech, and AI — sectors that often offer higher salaries, remote working options, and perceived career prestige. Manufacturing struggles to compete for the same talent pool.

Post-Brexit Mobility Challenges

Freedom of movement restrictions have reduced the flow of experienced automation engineers from continental Europe, where countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland have strong automation engineering traditions.

Rapid Technology Evolution

The convergence of traditional automation with IIoT, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI means that the skill requirements for automation engineers are expanding faster than the workforce can adapt. Employers increasingly want engineers who can programme PLCs and understand data analytics — a combination that is genuinely rare.

The Impact on Manufacturers

The automation talent shortage has tangible business consequences:

Practical Solutions

Partner with Specialist Recruiters

Generic recruitment agencies lack the technical knowledge to source and screen automation engineers effectively. Working with a specialist recruiter like OSCABE — where candidates are assessed by Chartered Engineers who understand the difference between a Siemens TIA Portal specialist and a Rockwell controls engineer — dramatically improves candidate quality and reduces time-to-hire.

Invest in Training and Development

Companies that grow their own talent through apprenticeship programmes, graduate schemes, and upskilling initiatives build a more sustainable workforce. Partnering with automation vendors for certified training programmes is particularly effective.

Offer Competitive Packages

The market has shifted. Employers who insist on below-market salaries or inflexible working arrangements will lose candidates to competitors. Transparency on salary, meaningful career progression, and investment in professional development are now table stakes.

Consider Contract and Hybrid Models

For project-based work, contract engineers can fill gaps while permanent recruitment continues. OSCABE can supply both permanent and contract automation engineers within 72 hours.

If you are struggling to hire automation engineers, submit your requirement to OSCABE. We deliver Chartered Engineer-verified shortlists within 72 hours, with no upfront fees. Let us help you solve your talent challenge.