Engineering now Britain’s second most trusted profession
6 December 2022
Almost nine in ten people trust engineers to tell the truth according to new research, which also shows that engineering is one of only three professions where trust has improved in the last year.
The findings come from the latest edition of the annual Ipsos Veracity Index, which has been tracking Britain’s trust in key professions since 1983.
Out of a list of 30 different professions, engineers are now the second most trusted, after nurses, with 87 per cent of the population trusting engineers to tell the truth. This takes engineers up from sixth place in 2021 to its highest ever ranking since the profession was first included in the survey in 2018.
The lowest ranking professions are politicians, advertising executives, government ministers, estate agents and journalists.
According to the survey, trust in engineers is equal across genders, with just one percentage point difference between men and women. This is despite only 16.5 per cent of engineers and technicians identifying as women – an issue that is now receiving much-needed attention through national campaigns and industry initiatives.
Commenting on the results, Prof Bob Cryan CBE, President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), said:
“Engineers play a central role in everyday life, contributing to advancing the world around us and finding solutions to global challenges such as climate change. It’s fantastic to see that nearly 9 in 10 people trust engineers – this demonstrates the huge level of professionalism and importance of engineers in the UK.
“The last couple of years have highlighted more than ever the vital role engineers play in developing technology and rapid processes, to keep our infrastructure and economy running. This recognition of trust by the public is a welcome boost to all those in industry, academia and our communities working together to address the shortfalls in engineer numbers faced across the UK by encouraging the next generation of talent, as engineering continues to be a vital profession across the world.”
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