The Labour Market for Scientists and Technologists

In this chapter we turn our attention to the labour market for scientists and technologists (including engineers). There are a number of reasons for choosing to focus on this particular group. There has been a heated debate about the possibility of shortages of such types of manpower in the UK and the detrimental effect this imbalance might have on the dynamic performance of the economy. This question is of great importance, given the long training period required to produce this type of manpower and the large sums of money involved, much of it from the public purse.