Is electronic/computer/hardware engineering a bad field to go into?

[clint222]

Hello!

I am very interested in computer hardware and software, physics, and math, so I might want to become a computer engineer. However I am worried by the fact that the US Occupational handbook says:

"Electronics engineers, except computer, are expected to experience little to no employment change over the projections decade. Although rising demand for electronic goods—including communications equipment, defense-related equipment, medical electronics, and consumer products—should continue to increase demand for electronics engineers, foreign competition in electronic products development and the use of engineering services performed in other countries will limit employment growth. Growth is expected to be fastest in service-providing industries—particularly in firms that provide engineering and design services."

"Computer hardware engineers are expected to have employment growth of 4 percent over the projections decade, slower than the average for all occupations. Although the use of information technology continues to expand rapidly, the manufacture of computer hardware is expected to be adversely affected by intense foreign competition. As computer and semiconductor manufacturers contract out more of their engineering needs to both domestic and foreign design firms, much of the growth in employment of hardware engineers is expected to take place in the computer systems design and related services industry."

While civil engineer are supposed to grow 24%, and the average growth is 7% I think.

Does this mean hardware engineering is a bad field to go into? Would it be difficult to get work? Would I be better off going into software engineering, or some other kind of engineering?

Thanks!

 

[Zinic]

This is something I would like to know as well.

 

[fss]

You should not choose a major or career path based on projections for employment. If you want to be a computer engineer, be a computer engineer.

 

[twofish-quant]

Does this mean hardware engineering is a bad field to go into? Would it be difficult to get work? Would I be better off going into software engineering, or some other kind of engineering?

One thing about projections is that you really should read economic forecasts from about ten years ago, and one thing that you'll quickly figure out is that sorts of forecasts tend to be seriously wrong. Right now a 4% growth in employment looks good.

What you really need to do is to get a good basic literacy training rather than focusing on a specific field. That way you can jump relatively easily from field to field depending on where the jobs are. Something that helps a lot is the fact if there is a shortage of people in field A, and huge demand for people in field B, people will move from field A to B. If you can do high level math, then you can move from oil to logistics to finance.

One other thing. If the jobs are overseas, consider moving overseas. We are in a global world.

The other thing is to learn politics and whatever you do, make sure you vote this November. A lot of what happens depends on the decisions you make.

 

[Zinic]

Thank you for the info.