Priming the Pump of the Skills Pipeline [Associate Editors' View]

There is a widely held belief that the average age of electronics, and in particular micro/nanoelectronics, engineers is rising within Western Europe. Furthermore, this hypothesis stands up to scrutiny when government figures are examined across the spectrum of manufacturing, design, and research activity. Taking the United Kingdom as an example, a recent analysis of the available workforce indicates anywhere between 35–45% of engineering staff are in the age range of 45–64 years old (see Figure 1). While this as a snapshot may not be an issue, it does not bode well for the future if this proportion grows at the expense of new blood. As a veteran myself, I realize the value of mentoring from both sides of the fence. Indeed, the most valuable experiences of my career have involved interaction with colleagues and learning from the inevitable mistakes one makes along the way. A world where experience leaches away from the engineering pool is therefore, in my mind, unthinkable.