Featured Guest Blogger: Eugene S. Please
The seemingly go-nowhere job market is making many individuals think twice about pursuing higher education. Those interested in engineering are certainly no exception, as engineering positions waned in an otherwise industrialized world intimidated by a bad economy. But aspiring engineers ought to recognize that, while demand for their potential talents is currently down, their role in the 21st century is anything but irrelevant. The following are five reasons why you can most certainly count on the demand for engineers in the decades to come:
Infrastructure Needs Improvement
Across the United States of America, bridges are disintegrating, sewers are sinking, and other civil necessities continue to degrade with any rehabilitation. Millions of improvements to infrastructure wait to be made when the money to make them becomes available. For every improvement, there will be a team of engineers there making the big on-the-grounds decisions. Extend this worldwide, and it’s easy to see how many engineers are going to be needed.
The Environment is Changing
Whether humans are the cause or not remains a matter of debate, but the evidence is overwhelmingly clear that Earth’s environment is changing, at least as far as human survivability is concerned. Seaside cities will see more floods, while urban areas under arid conditions will continue to heat up. To ensure these places remain inhabitable, engineers will be busy designing new ways to survive the unforgiving forces of Mother Nature.
Labor Data Points to Science and Industry
Don’t let the mere musings of a blogger be the only thing that tells you engineers are sure to become in demand again. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that between now and the end of the decade, opportunities that involve an enhanced understanding of math and science are the ones that will see substantial growth. Engineers will either be involved directly in these industries, or they will contribute to the initial establishment of the machines and structures that will be used.
Access to an Engineering Education is Improving
Not only are the opportunities of employment in engineering expected to improve, but the means to be educated for these positions is already improving. The graphics capabilities of modern computer models means that accredited online degree programs in engineering will be just as sufficient in passing such knowledge along as traditional campus-based models. All the excuses for not getting an engineering degree in the 20th century are ceasing to exist in the 21st century.
Engineering is Tied Into Every Aspect of Tomorrow
Do not let talk of technological, web-based industry fool you into thinking that the real world is a thing of the past. If all the world’s knowledge is to be contained in data centers, then engineers will have to design such data centers. If people move closer to one another into massive cities to save money on transportation, then engineers will have to be involved in the planning process. No matter the technological advancement of tomorrow, engineers are going to be an essential aspect of the development process.
If you had a list of excuses for why it wasn’t smart to pursue an engineering career, hopefully every bullet point has been eliminated. The truth is that of all possible fields you could pursue, engineering is perhaps the most likely to be a critical component of the future, and therefore is the most likely to provide you with opportunity.
Our founder Anthony Fasano, P.E., author of Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating an Extraordinary Engineering Career sends out free daily career inspiration to engineers through his popular Daily Boosts, you can read about the Daily Boosts or simply sign up below.
Related posts:
Anthony Fasano, P.E., aka Your Professional Partner, founded Powerful Purpose Associates after he realized that it was the development of his soft skills that helped him to become an associate partner at a reputable engineering firm at the young age of 27. With history as a civil engineer, Anthony is now a nationally recognized executive coach and inspirational speaker, specializing in the areas of engineering career development, as well as leadership. He uses his highly effective coaching and speaking techniques through affordable programs to help engineers develop their soft skills, work through blocks, prioritize effectively, set clear goals and achieve their maximum potential.
Connect