India has approximately 3 times the US population in about 1/3 the land mass.....it ain't only Engineers.
Posted on 11/22/2005 10:09:59 AM PST by fishtank
November 22, 2005
Are We Lacking Engineers? Or Are Engineers Lacking? (Does It Matter?)
By David R. Butcher
Many United States companies say they are facing an alarmingly growing trend; that is, a severe shortage of engineers. Contrary to this belief, however, many others say there is actually an engineer surplus. Seriously, what is going on?!?
Theory I: With a shrinking number of employed local talent in engineering fields, the United States is lacking engineers. Theory II: Theory I is stupid. There are too many engineers, but hirers are overly nitpicky in their choosing.
And so, there is a great amount of finger-pointing taking place on duel sides.
Those who see a valid lack of American engineers to an extent blame temporary work visa programs, wherein U.S. employers are permitted to hire foreign nationals with knowledge and skills deemed to be in short supply. Further, they blame a lack of engineering-related education programs for the gap of American engineers in general; whereas overseas countries offer incentives to their brightest students to learn in the U.S. and them offer job security for them to return, this group believes the engineering field is not emphasized enough in K-12 education.
According to News 8 Austin coverage on the topic this month, “engineering programs fill up with students from overseas, who then return home once they graduate. The shortage of U.S. students has a drastic effect on where companies go to find talent.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.thomasnet.com ...
"...John Tracy, vice president of engineering for Boeing Co.’s Integrated Defense Systems, "who says he needs to hire 1,000 engineers a month, mainly to replace retiring engineers, many of whom were originally inspired by the space race in the 1960s. But he has been able to hire only 2,500 a year in each of the past two years."
When engineers salaries reach that of lawyers - we will then have as many engineers as lawyers...
ping...
Anybody that goes into engineering is asking for a lifetime of frustration and disappointment.
That said, alot of the bad press about outsourcing will definatly damped incoming class pools of engineers.
John Sununu where are you?
I wish someone'd told me that about 6 years ago. :)
Maybe it's time to quit teaching our kids "self-esteem" and start teaching them math and science. Problem is, liberals control the NEA and most public schools.
I know hundreds of engineers. I think the shortages are localized, and not nationwide.
Houston: shortage - strong demand
Southeast: plenty - strong supply, fluctuating demand
Northeast: plenty - poor demand
California: shortage - engineers have better sense than to go there
Actually, the frustration really starts when you're about 40...
I hope you are retraining to be a lawyer ;)
Engineer Ping!!
No thanks. I am an engineer by degree but I like people and prefer to interact with them.
....so maybe I'm not a "true" engineer. :)
This says nothing.
An 'engineer' can be anything from a glorified draftsman to a leading-edge scientist. Same thing with a programmer.
The way things are shaping up, a country needs only a small elite to really prosper. Everything else, you can find someone somewhere to do it for you. Location strategy will mostly be determined by currency valuations.
That is the bottom line, indeed. Pay engineers what their services are worth and you'll have as many as you need.
Very true!
After some 30 years in the business, I call it a "sawtooth career."
A "permanent" engineering job is typically 2 years.
India has approximately 3 times the US population in about 1/3 the land mass.....it ain't only Engineers.
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner!
I think we need more poets.
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