UK Space Sector Employment Grew Nearly 7 Percent Between 2019 and 2020
Employment in the United Kingdom space industry grew nearly 7% between 2019 and 2020, according to a new industry report released Thursday. Consulting firm BryceTech compiled the survey, the “Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2021” survey, on behalf of the UK Space Agency.
The survey found that employment in the U.K. space sector hit 46,995 in 2020, up from 44,040 in 2019.
There are now 1,293 space organizations located across the U.K., and Scotland is responsible for around one fifth of the entire U.K. space workforce. Between 2019 and 2020, employment in the sector grew from 7,703 to 8,440 in Scotland; from 415 to 1,109 in Wales; and from 113 to 431 in Northern Ireland.
Total income for the sector took a slight dip in 2020, however. Adjusted for inflation, total income of the sector dropped by 1.7% in 2020, compared to a 9.9% drop in the wider U.K. economy mainly due to the effects of the pandemic. The report said that fewer live sports broadcasts had a negative impact on satellite broadcasting services and travel restrictions reduced demand for mobile satellite services from maritime companies and airlines.
Yet confidence remains high, and more than three-quarters of organizations predict a rise in income over the next three years. The United Kingdom is investing in its space capabilities through the nation’s first national space strategy, released in 2021. The country is also preparing to open its first domestic spaceport this summer, with Virgin Orbit launching from Spaceport Cornwall.
“The UK space sector has shown remarkable resilience in the face of challenges presented by the pandemic, thanks to the incredible efforts of all those within it, and its future is a bright and ambitious one,” commented Dr. Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency. “We continue to work closely with partners across the industry, with academia and our colleagues across government to catalyze further investment, deliver new space capabilities and missions, and champion space for the good of humanity.”