Diversity data: biomedical scientists - January 2024

Diversity data factsheet: biomedical scientists

• Age

  Question asked:
  "What was your date of birth"
  
  Note:
  This was used to calculate current age at the point of production of this factsheet.

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Age	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	5	0%	45	0%
  Recorded	27,540	100%	337,855	100%
  20-29	4,115	15%	58,010	17%
  30-39	9,020	33%	103,725	31%
  40-49	7,395	27%	86,515	26%
  50-59	4,855	18%	61,880	18%
  60-69	2,000	7%	24,505	7%
  70+	155	1%	3,220	1%
  	27,540	100%	337,855	100%

  

• Disability

  Question asked:
  "Do you consider yourself to have a disability or to be a disabled person?"
  
  Accompanying note in portal:
  In the UK, a disability is defined as "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term* adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities" You may have none, one, or more conditions that you believe are covered by this definition. Please answer how you feel this definiton applies to you. (*long-term means that the impact has lasted, or is expected to last, for 12 months or more)
  
  Note:
  HCPC does collect further data on long term conditions, however the protected characteristic is disabilty status rather than disabling condition.

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Disability	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	20	0%
  Recorded	27,395	100%	311,445	100%
  No	25,250	92%	283,770	91%
  Yes	1,060	4%	16,270	5%
  Prefer not to say	1,085	4%	11,405	4%
  	27,395	100%	311,445	100%

  

• Ethnicity

  Question asked:
  "Which of the following best describes your ethnic origin? Ethnicity is defined as including colour, ethnic or national origin, or nationality. Please choose whichever answer best reflects how you think of yourself."
  
  Portal category options:
  - White
  - Asian or Asian British
  - Black, African, Caribbean or Black British
  - Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
  - Other ethnic group
  - Prefer not to say
  
  Note:
  The categories presented here are the high level categories collected by HCPC. Respondents are also asked for a lower level category (18 options) based on their high level response. 

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Ethnicity	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	0	0%
  Recorded	27,390	100%	311,475	100%
  White	15,080	55%	234,985	75%
  Asian	4,995	18%	36,525	12%
  Black	4,885	18%	17,050	5%
  Mixed	490	2%	6,220	2%
  Other	650	2%	4,305	1%
  Prefer not to say	1,290	5%	12,390	4%
  	27,390	100%	311,475	100%

  

• Gender reassignment

  Question asked:
  "Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?"
  
  Accompanying note in portal:
  Your gender identity may be the same as your assigned sex, but it may be different. You may identify as the opposite gender to your assigned sex, you may identify with neither, or with a self-described gender identity.

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Gender Reassignment	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	10	0%	210	0%
  Recorded	27,385	100%	311,260	100%
  Yes	26,395	96%	300,295	96%
  No	70	0%	735	0%
  Prefer to self-describe	20	0%	305	0%
  Prefer not to say	900	3%	9,925	3%
  	27,385	100%	311,260	100%

  

• Marriage and civil partnership

  Question asked:
  "What is your legal marital or registered civil partnership status?"
  
  Portal category options:
  - Married
  - Never married and never registered in a civil partnership
  - Divorced
  - In a registered civil partnership
  - Separated but still legally married
  - Widowed
  - Formerly in a civil partnership which is now legally dissolved
  - Separated but still legally in civil partnership
  - Surviving partner from a registered civil partnership
  - Prefer not to say

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Marriage and Civil Partnership	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	25	0%
  Recorded	27,400	100%	311,445	100%
  Married (M)	13,975	51%	150,850	48%
  Never married or CP	9,100	33%	110,000	35%
  Separated & div. (M)	1,255	5%	16,450	5%
  In Civil Partnership (CP)	115	0%	1,870	1%
  Separated, not div. (M)	375	1%	4,245	1%
  Widowed (M)	225	1%	2,075	1%
  Separated & dis. (CP)	10	0%	200	0%
  Separated not dis. (CP)	15	0%	135	0%
  Widowed (CP)	5	0%	40	0%
  Prefer not to say	2,325	8%	25,580	8%
  	27,400	100%	311,445	100%

  

• Pregnancy and maternity

  Question asked:
  "Do you consider your self to fall under the protected characteristic of 'pregnacy & maternity', as per the Equality Act 2010? 'Pregnancy' refers to the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby, and 'maternity' refers to the period of 26 weeks after birth. The Equality Act 2010 protections also cover a someone who has had a miscarriage."

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Pregnancy and Maternity	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	5	0%	95	0%
  Recorded	27,390	100%	311,370	100%
  No	24,245	89%	276,980	89%
  Yes	1,370	5%	15,810	5%
  Prefer not to say	1,775	6%	18,580	6%
  	27,390	100%	311,370	100%

  

• Religion or belief

  Question asked:
  "What is your religion or strongly held belief, if any?"
  
  Portal category options:
  - No religion or strongly held belief
  - Christian (Including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations.)
  - Muslim
  - Hindu
  - Spiritual
  - Buddhist
  - Any other religion or belief
  - Jewish
  - Sikh
  - Prefer not to say

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Religion or Belief	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	15	0%
  Recorded	27,380	100%	311,460	100%
  No religion	8,830	32%	128,260	41%
  Christian	11,475	42%	120,025	39%
  Muslim	2,825	10%	14,885	5%
  Hindu	1,240	5%	9,130	3%
  Spiritual	265	1%	5,810	2%
  Buddhist	175	1%	2,285	1%
  Other	130	0%	1,920	1%
  Jewish	25	0%	1,785	1%
  Sikh	280	1%	1,600	1%
  Prefer not to say	2,135	8%	25,760	8%
  	27,380	100%	311,460	100%

  

• Sex

  Question asked:
  "What is your Sex?"
  
  Accompanying note in portal: 
  This is the sex you were assigned at birth and we asked you to provide this information when you registered with the HCPC. For births registered in the UK, this will either be male or female. However, some other countries may include 'intersex' as an option. We also ask if your gender identity is different from the sex you were assigned at birth. Your gender identity may be the same as your assigned sex, but it may be different. You may identify as the opposite gender to your assigned sex, you may identify with neither, or with a self-described gender identity.

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Sex	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	35	0%
  Recorded	27,545	100%	337,870	100%
  Female	18,335	67%	241,060	71%
  Male	8,405	31%	88,005	26%
  Intersex	0	0%	45	0%
  Prefer not to say	805	3%	8,760	3%
  	27,545	100%	337,870	100%

  

• Sexual orientation

  Question asked:
  "Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?"
  
  Portal category options:
  - Heterosexual/straight
  - Bisexual
  - Gay woman/lesbian
  - Gay man
  - Pansexual
  - Queer
  - Asexual
  - Prefer to self-describe
  - Prefer not to say

  	Biomedical scientists		All professions
  Sexual Orientation	Count	%	Count	%
  Not recorded	0	0%	15	0%
  Recorded	27,395	100%	311,455	100%
  Heterosexual	23,985	88%	270,395	87%
  Bisexual	470	2%	5,850	2%
  Lesbian	200	1%	4,200	1%
  Gay man	400	1%	3,765	1%
  Pansexual	65	0%	930	0%
  Queer	45	0%	820	0%
  Asexual	55	0%	300	0%
  Prefer to self-describe	10	0%	225	0%
  Prefer not to say	2,165	8%	24,970	8%
  	27,395	100%	311,455	100%