Employment outlook for Engineers and Technicians (Mechanics) Looks Promising

Here are two excerpts from today's AIAA newsletter that may be of interest to anyone considering engineer or technician careers:

Boeing Report: Aviation Maintenance Technicians In Demand.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2/5, Raines) reports, "The global airline industry will need 34,000 new airplanes (double the current number) by 2031, according to a 2012 Current Market Outlook report published by the Boeing Co." and "commercial airlines will require 601,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians in the next 20 years to maintain that fleet." The Journal-Constitution notes that "becoming an aviation maintenance technician requires completing a program that leads to an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate and license at a school approved by the" FAA which "requires job candidates to be at least 18, fluent in English and have 30 months of work experience, or to graduate from an approved educational program." According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, "most programs in avionics, aviation technology or aviation maintenance management last from 18 to 24 months, but about one-third of the schools offer two-year and four-year degrees."



Survey: STEM Majors Earn The Highest Starting Salaries.

The Los Angeles Times (2/4, Li) "Money & Co." blog reported, "A new survey found - surprise! - that science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors earn the highest starting salaries, handily beating their classmates studying liberal arts." The Times reported, "Engineering majors saw a 3.9% rise in their starting salaries from 2011 to 2012, with six engineering specialties ranking among the top 10 at the bachelor's level. Graduates who specialized in aerospace engineering enjoyed the biggest jump, increasing 8.3% to $64,000, according to the survey by the National Assn. of Colleges and Employers."

 

And if I could pile on a bit, opportunities of this sort are HUGE in other parts of the world. Frequently the money is huge too.

 

If you are willing to move, your chances of employment increase tenfold. I went from no job to multiple offers once I expanded my job search nation wide. I'm willing to bet Engineer graduates willing to relocate have a unemployment rate near zero. Plus, we all know about jobs in North Dakota, Montana and Canada in the Oil & Gas industry. Or maybe those of us not on the coasts realize it, since we don't regard anything west of Philly or east of Las Vegas as "fly-over" country.