Posted on 09/15/2014 3:26:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[SNIP]
All of which brings us to the latest popular lament among pundits, politicians, and even some in the business world: the perceived lack of engineers and/or STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates. President Obama has said We need more engineers, so has Hillary Clinton, and then Lockheed Martin executive Stephanie Hill recently stated that well lose if we dont produce at least 1 million more STEM grads.
About all the handwringing, readers can relax. Indeed, theres nothing to this story or alleged shortage. Price signals work. They always do, and they do because one of the underlying purposes of markets is to fulfill unmet needs. We dont need government or deep-thinking policy types to fix what is not a problem. The free markets already are as evidenced by the higher pay that engineers and other technical types can command in the marketplace.
Assuming the higher pay doesnt cause more individuals to migrate toward STEM disciplines, that will merely serve as a signal for companies to apportion even more in the way of funds to the hiring of those who do. If market forces can turn million dollar computers into commodities that can be had for a few hundred, its very apparent that they can solve any presumed dearth of technical laborers. Important here is that innovations divined by the very engineers seen as too short in supply are rapidly negating the need for local talent as is.
Indeed, while Lockheed Martins Hill says well lose if we dont produce more STEM grads, companies like oDesk are rendering this imagined shortfall irrelevant. Thats the case because oDesk matches businesses around the world with engineers and computer programmers from around the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
I have had 0ne interview in 8 mo with 32 years experience.
I nailed that test.
No offer.
“Seriously, I can not believe some of the poor wages they want to pay some of these guys.”
$60k starting is poor?
I am seeing $15 hr for a guy with a 4 year degree, and its a temp job.
This is in a strong Tx market
“I am seeing $15 hr for a guy with a 4 year degree, and its a temp job. This is in a strong Tx market”
Show me what you are seeing ...
Send me the job reqs.
The “engineer shortage” is a code for more H1B visas. Of course this is bogus. Domestic engineers need more pay.
An increase in labor supply means a decrease in wages. Letting foreign works depress the wage rate means less students seek engineering as a career.
We are eating our education seed corn for the likes of Microsoft, Motorola and Oracle.
I had several interviews two months ago (one was onsite) with 2 different firms. I have another interview this week.
But outside of that, it’s probably been 6 months since the last followup.
I’m still submitting applications every week. I’m starting to put in on (non-technical) positions completely out of my field (including a job pool at a university).
Just poke around on Indeed.com
Test Engineer,Engineering Technician, RF test tech, Test integration, Electronics technician.
Seems rather hit or miss, and I HATE these job boards.
Best wishes to you.
BTW I am looking at getting licensed for common local jobs, just to spread the field.
Realtor,CDL, Level 3 security.
Full benefits and 5 miles away? 2K outlay?
Beats $20 hr 65 mi away with a $9 a day fare and gas.
$9 dollar a day fare PLUS gas.
And yet one small city of 60k in Boehner’s district here in Ohio is paying the cops and average of 115k. I don’t think I ever met a senior aerospace engineer come close to making that kind of money and I’ve worked with many.
Do you mean focusing on microchips only is bad?
My alma matter doesn’t think so. Of course, I choose to recruit elsewhere.
Thar ya go,and Ohio is where flight was born.
employers pad a job lising with so much required - so many different programs, and then so much time in each, that makes it impossible for one prson to have all that, so then they can go h1b. the requirements then change.
electrical engineers generally either go into computing, or power systems.
Lol
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