Mapping the UK's space workforce: 2024 Space Census launches today

Launching today, the 2024 Space Census aims to provide new data on the UK space workforce and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

The national survey of space professionals is conducted by the Space Skills Alliance and collects information about who works in the sector, how they got here, and what their experiences have been.

The results will be used to inform national space policy and sector strategy, and to improve what it’s like to work in the sector, tackle discrimination, and make the sector more attractive to new recruits.

The Space Census first ran in 2020, and its findings have been quoted in Parliament by the Science Minister, in reports by the Science and Technology Commons Select Committee and the OECD, and by many individuals and space organisations in the UK and abroad.

Four reports provided the first comprehensive statistics on demographics, pay, the experiences of women, and how and why people join the sector. Key findings included:

• Foreign nationals make up just under a fifth of the space workforce
• Space pay is competitive with other engineering sectors but not with the tech sector
• 41% of women in the space sector have experienced discrimination
• Most people join the space sector at the start of their career, three quarters have joined by age 35

The 2024 Space Census is supported by more than 30 space organisations including the UK Space Agency, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UKspace. It will build on the 2020 edition to give a more detailed picture of trends within the sector. New questions will collect information on professional development, career breaks, and retention. The first results for 2024 are expected to be released later in the year.

If you work in the UK space sector, take part in the 2024 Space Census at census.spaceskills.org. The Census closes Friday 3rd May 2024.

Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

The Space Census provides a unique insight into the makeup of the sector’s demographics and the experiences of space sector employees, helping government and the UK Space Agency make more informed policy and delivery decisions.

I urge all those who work in the sector to respond and share their valuable insights.

John Hanley, Chair of UKspace, said:

While the UK space sector is growing at a huge pace, we must ensure that we attract and retain the best people. The 2024 Space Census is an invaluable tool for gathering the necessary information to ensure that all areas of society are represented, and, where we see that it's not happening, implement measures to achieve true diversity.

Only by taking such an approach, can we be sure that we are attracting the best people who will allow the industry to continue flourishing and making the sector a place they want to stay to the benefit of all.