Engineers ranked among Britain’s most trusted professions, surpassing doctors

Out of a list of 26 different professions, engineers are the second most trusted in Great Britain, up from fourth place (with a score of 85 percent) in 2023, according to the latest Veracity Index from Ipsos.

Nine in 10 people (90 percent) across the country trust engineers to tell them the truth, putting them just ahead of doctors (88 percent) and being topped only by nurses (94 percent).

The Institution of Engineering
and Technology (IET) worked with the 2024 Ipsos Veracity Index, which has been tracking the latest movements in Britons’ trust in key professions since the 1980s, to include engineering for the sixth year running.

The profession, which makes up 19 percent of the UK workforce*, is trusted to tell the truth by nine in 10 people (90 percent of the population), closely following nurses (94 percent) and moving ahead of doctors, professors and teachers.

Engineers have recorded similar levels of trust in previous years, including a score of 89 percent in 2020.

Trust in engineers is almost equal across genders, with just a four-percentage point difference between men and women. 

Despite this, only 15.7 percent of engineers identify as women, something which the IET hopes to address through various campaigns and initiatives, including its upcoming Young Woman Engineer (YWE) of the Year Awards. 

Titi Oliyide, the current
IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year, said: “Engineers play a central role in everyday life, contributing to advancing the world around us and finding solutions to the global challenges we as a society face. 

“It’s fantastic to see that nine in 10 people across the country trust engineers, demonstrating 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 shortfall of engineers and amplifies our duty to lead and innovate responsibly for the betterment of our planet and society.”

At the bottom of the trust league are politicians generally (11 percent), government ministers (15 percent), advertising executives (16 percent) and journalists (27 percent).