Home / Education / N. Ireland Women Engineer Success
N. Ireland Women Engineer Success
19 Sep
Summary
- Female engineering student numbers rise significantly in Northern Ireland.
- Women now hold 50% of senior leadership roles at Powerscreen.
- Only 11% of engineering roles in Northern Ireland are held by women.
In Northern Ireland, a notable surge in women pursuing engineering degrees has been observed over the last decade. At Queen's University, female enrollment in Mechanical Engineering climbed by 40%, while Ulster University nearly doubled its number of female engineering students. These advancements coincide with broader industry shifts, though the engineering and manufacturing sectors largely remain male-dominated.
A group of women professionals in Mid Ulster are actively promoting career opportunities for women in engineering. Lorraine O'Neill, Senior Logistics Manager at Powerscreen, notes a dramatic change since she started in 1994, with female representation growing from under 10 to over 300 employees. She highlighted the transformation in leadership, with women now comprising 50% of the senior management team, a stark contrast to her early career.
Despite progress, employment statistics from 2026 indicate women hold approximately 11% of engineering roles and about 23% of the manufacturing workforce in Northern Ireland. Experts like Professor Juliana Early from Queen's University see the increased enrollment as a positive sign of changing perceptions and successful targeted initiatives to attract women to the sector.
Industry leaders emphasize the importance of early STEM education for young women. Rachel Pattison, Head of Operations at Tierco Healthcare, believes that inspiring girls from a young age is crucial for greater gender diversity. While acknowledging the significant work still needed to balance the employment statistics, she stresses the impact of showcasing successful women currently in the field.
