| With the current down turn in the economy many | | | | and Industrial engineering. |
| engineers have loss their jobs or worried that they | | | | Three leading employed professions |
| maybe losing their job soon. Budget constraints both in | | | | - Civil Engineers- 278,400 |
| the public and private sector are forcing to think about | | | | - Mechanical Engineers - 238,700 |
| how secure the jobs really are. But as we all know this | | | | - Industrial Engineers - 214,800 |
| recession will not last forever. Sooner or later the | | | | Three lowest employed professions |
| promised recovery will begin. The question is what | | | | - Agricultural Engineers 2,700 |
| engineering will benefit from the renewed economy | | | | - Mining and Geological Engineers, including mining |
| and which ones will not fair so well? There is no real | | | | safety engineers 7,100 |
| crystal ball, but there are clear indicators that every | | | | - Marine Engineers and Naval Architects 8,500 |
| engineer should be aware of and make preparations | | | | The three engineering professions expecting the |
| accordingly. | | | | highest growth rate over the decade are Biomedical, |
| Engineers will need to continue their education to stay | | | | Environmental, and Civil. These professions provide |
| up with the latest technologies to offer their clients the | | | | professional services in the industries which are |
| best solutions. Most of the State Licensing Boards | | | | expected to have the most significant growth. These |
| require Professional Engineers to renew their | | | | fields include Health and Medical, Environmental |
| professional licenses periodically with a minimum | | | | Technologies, Infrastructure including transportation and |
| number of continuing education units. These units are | | | | utilities, and Water Resources and Waste |
| usually Professional Development Hours (PDH) or | | | | Management. These industries also require the |
| Continuing Education Units (CEU). One PDH is | | | | engineers to be local to provide the necessary |
| equivalent to one hour of course education, and one | | | | services. |
| CEU is equivalent to ten PDH or ten hours of course | | | | In addition to openings from job growth, many openings |
| education. Some may find that their profession is not | | | | will be created by the need to replace current |
| growing or trailing behind may need to change careers | | | | engineers who retire; transfer to management, sales, |
| or strength their technical knowledge. | | | | or other occupations; or leave engineering for other |
| One of the best indicators of upcoming markets is to | | | | reasons. |
| know what the baby boomer generation needs and | | | | The three slowest growing engineering professions |
| wants. The baby boomers, the individuals born | | | | are Chemical, Electrical and Electronics, and Computer |
| between 1945 and 1964, are now approaching | | | | Hardware engineers. These particular professions are |
| retirement age. Many will be retiring and will require | | | | receiving extreme competition from outside of the |
| some medical and health assistance. They will also | | | | United States. Also note that these professions are |
| want medication to appear young as long as possible. | | | | not required for the most part to hold a Professional |
| Obviously fields that support this industry will do very | | | | Engineering license. Companies are finding that |
| well. The most likely profession to benefit is Biomedical | | | | engineers in other countries in electrical, computer, and |
| Engineers. They are necessary to improve new | | | | chemical industries can provide the same service for a |
| medical devices and equipment. In addition, new | | | | far lower salary or fee. |
| facilities will be required for the aging population. | | | | Three leading Job Growth rate professions |
| Independent Living Facilities and senior communities will | | | | - Biomedical Engineers - 72% |
| rise in demand. This will definitely improve prospects | | | | - Environmental Engineers - 31% |
| for Civil and Mechanical Engineers. | | | | - Civil Engineers - 24% |
| Another field that will continue to have a high demand | | | | Three laggards in Job Growth rate |
| for engineers is the environmental fields, which includes | | | | - Chemical Engineers - (-2)% |
| new green products, renewable energy, water | | | | - Electrical and Electronics Engineers - 1% |
| resources, and waste-water management. The United | | | | - Computer Hardware Engineers - 4% |
| States will continue to encourage renewable energy | | | | The three engineering professions with highest initial |
| including wind and solar power with government grants | | | | salary are in petroleum, chemical, and mining industries. |
| and other types of funding. These projects will | | | | Petroleum and Mining Engineers are expected to have |
| generate numerous jobs for many different | | | | a growth rate of 18% and 15% respectively over the |
| professions. As the population continues to expand a | | | | decade, while Chemical Engineering is expected to |
| greater demand will be placed on housing and our | | | | decline by 2%. |
| water resources and waste-water management. | | | | The three engineering professions with the lowest |
| These increased demands will increase jobs for | | | | starting salaries are Civil Biomedical, and Agricultural. |
| Electrical, Mechanical, Civil and Environmental Engineers. | | | | Civil, Biomedical and Agricultural Engineers are |
| Due to the increasing population and aging facilities, the | | | | expected to have a growth rate of 24%, 72% and |
| government will also need to expand and improve the | | | | 12% respectively over the decade. |
| country's infrastructure. Roads, bridges, dams, railways, | | | | Three leading Starting Median Salaries professions |
| airports, and utilities throughout the country will need | | | | - Petroleum Engineers - $83,121 |
| greater attention. These improvements will also | | | | - Chemical Engineers - $64,902 |
| increase the demand for Civil Engineers. | | | | - Mining and Mineral Engineers - $64,404 |
| According to the United States Bureau of Labor | | | | Three laggards Starting Salaries |
| Statistics, "Occupational Outlook Handbook", 2010-11 | | | | - Civil Engineers - $52,048 |
| Edition, over the next decade, 2008 to 2018, the | | | | - Biomedical Engineers - $54,158 |
| engineering field should grow by 11%. In 2008 engineers | | | | - Agricultural Engineers - $54,352 |
| held 1.6 million jobs in the United States. A little more | | | | So what is the lesson? The engineering professions |
| than 45% were employed by the three leading | | | | that require a local engineer usually with a Professional |
| professions; Civil, Mechanical, and Industrial Engineering. | | | | Engineer license will remain in high demand; especially |
| As expected the three smallest engineering | | | | Civil Engineers. Engineering fields that can be replaced |
| professions are highly specialized; Agricultural, Mining | | | | by foreign engineers and do not require a Professional |
| and Safety, and Marine and Naval Engineers. | | | | Engineering license will suffer. Engineers who have not |
| Another surprise was that about 3 percent in 2008 | | | | kept current in their field may find themselves at a |
| were self-employed, many as consultants. This means | | | | disadvantage when seeking promotions or during |
| that 97% of engineers are employed by the | | | | layoffs. The best way to stay current is through |
| government or private firms. | | | | continuing education courses. |
| One would think that most engineers are employed by | | | | In this article we have discussed the future of |
| the government, but according to the report about 12 | | | | engineering. Although for some the future looks bleak |
| percent in 2008 were employed by the Federal, State, | | | | right now, the number of new engineering jobs is |
| and local governments, and about half of them were in | | | | projected to grow. Many of the new industries will |
| the Federal Government, mainly in the U.S. | | | | require engineers. The main way to ensure |
| Departments of Defense, Transportation, Agriculture, | | | | employment is to be aware of the demand for your |
| Interior, and Energy, and in the National Aeronautics | | | | profession and to stay current with the latest |
| and Space Administration. Many engineers in State | | | | engineering skills; technical, ethical, and managerial. |
| and local government agencies worked in highway | | | | Acquiring the necessary skills can be the difference |
| and public works departments. Approximately 45% | | | | between an employed and an unemployed engineer. |
| are employed in three professions; Civil, Mechanical, | | | | |