The research also reveals that parents could be limiting their child's future career decisions by having outdated perceptions of the jobs they think boys and girls are interested in.
Parents of girls said their child would be most interested in pursuing a career in education and childcare (32%), the arts (29%), healthcare (26%) and hair and beauty (23%). In contrast, parents of boys thought information technology (47%), sport (33%) and engineering (28%) were sectors that would appeal to their child.
When asked about which subjects they enjoy at school, STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) topped the list for children, particularly ICT/computing which was enjoyed by more than half (52%) of the children interviewed.
Although slightly less fond of STEM subjects than boys, 39% of girls said they enjoyed ICT/computing, with the same percentage also enjoying design and technology. Among STEM subjects, 38% of children said they enjoyed Maths, with a further 36% saying they also enjoyed Science.
Yet even though STEM subjects seem to be popular among girls, only 6% of the engineering workforce in the UK is female.
William Webb, IET president, said: "STEM subjects form the backbone of the engineering industry and help it to continue growing and innovating. We see clearly from this research that girls do have a genuine interest in these areas but this doesn't translate to the number of women entering the engineering industry.
"The data from our research clearly shows a need to engage better with girls and their parents about the importance of STEM subjects and the world of opportunities they can open up for young people in the engineering industry."
He added: "The research also shows that there is a growing need to change perceptions of what modern engineering is and what it can offer girls in terms of a career. The key to doing this is by changing the perceptions of parents who are highly influential in their child's decision making processes and showing them that engineering doesn't have to be a messy, mechanical or physically demanding career choice."
The IET's Engineer a Better World campaign looks to engage with parents and their children about the career opportunities that engineering has to offer.
