Which engineering field is in high demand?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the choice of engineering fields, particularly focusing on the demand for Electrical/Electronics engineering compared to other disciplines. Participants share their experiences and insights regarding job markets, industry trends, and personal preferences in engineering education.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about pursuing Electrical/Electronics engineering due to concerns about job market viability and personal interest in the subject matter.
  • Another participant suggests that many engineering fields are in demand and recommends pursuing a discipline aligned with personal interests, mentioning Mechanical and Chemical engineering as options.
  • A participant working in Silicon Valley asserts that there is a strong market for electrical and computer engineers, countering the claim of a lack of opportunities.
  • Concerns are raised about the future demand for electrical engineers, with one participant expressing confidence that demand will not decrease significantly in the next 5-6 years.
  • Another participant speculates that the rapid advancement of electronics could lead to an increase in demand, although they acknowledge uncertainty due to their status as a high school student.
  • Discussion includes thoughts on the geographical distribution of engineering jobs, with some suggesting that work may spread beyond Silicon Valley in the future.
  • There are light-hearted exchanges about the potential for other regions, such as India, to become significant tech hubs.
  • One participant advises caution in placing too much weight on opinions regarding job markets, given their age and experience level.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the job market for Electrical/Electronics engineering, with some asserting strong demand while others remain skeptical. The discussion reflects a mix of personal experiences and speculative insights, with no consensus on future trends.

Contextual Notes

Participants' claims about job markets are based on personal experiences and anecdotal evidence, with no formal data presented to support their assertions. The discussion also reflects varying levels of knowledge and experience among participants.

melissa97
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I need to make my choice soon on which engineering course I want to apply for. Civil is out of the question because my scholarship doesn't allow Civil and I don't know why. I wanted to choose Electrical/Electronics but I've been hearing people saying there's no market for it and after learning about electromagnetism and circuits, I don't quite fancy the topics. I did some research and so far not so helpful. I'm hopeful someone would enlighten me. Thank you.
 
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melissa97 said:
I need to make my choice soon on which engineering course I want to apply for. Civil is out of the question because my scholarship doesn't allow Civil and I don't know why. I wanted to choose Electrical/Electronics but I've been hearing people saying there's no market for it and after learning about electromagnetism and circuits, I don't quite fancy the topics. I did some research and so far not so helpful. I'm hopeful someone would enlighten me. Thank you.

Hi Melissa. You may want to check out http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm. Many types of engineers are in demand, and you will probably be best served by pursuing whatever field you are more interested in or passionate about. Mechanical engineering is probably the most generic and will open doors in aerospace and automotive industries (among others). Chemical engineering is very specific but starting salaries are highest for chemical engineers. There are also a variety of careers that require any engineering degree and don't care what particular flavor it is.

You may want to investigate the entry level job options in engineering. There are many rotational programs at larger companies such as Intel, GE, Raytheon, etc, that give engineers exposure to a variety of roles early on. Check out the requirements for those programs at companies you may be interested in working for.

With an engineering degree you will also have options in industries such as management and finance. You may or may not want to broaden your search and check out what other industries are looking for in candidates as well.
 
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melissa97, I'm an electrical engineer, and work in Silicon Valley in California. There is a tremendous market for electrical and computer engineers, at least out here. I don't know what the job market is like in your preferred geographic area, but I think you've heard wrong about the general market for EEs.

- Warren
 
chroot said:
melissa97, I'm an electrical engineer, and work in Silicon Valley in California. There is a tremendous market for electrical and computer engineers, at least out here. I don't know what the job market is like in your preferred geographic area, but I think you've heard wrong about the general market for EEs.

- Warren

Its pretty much the same story in australia. Engineers get snapped up very very quickly because a lot of people don't pick engineering here.
 
chroot said:
melissa97, I'm an electrical engineer, and work in Silicon Valley in California. There is a tremendous market for electrical and computer engineers, at least out here. I don't know what the job market is like in your preferred geographic area, but I think you've heard wrong about the general market for EEs.

- Warren

Do you know if the demand would be decreasing anytime soon? How about 5-6 years from now?
 
thrill3rnit3 said:
Do you know if the demand would be decreasing anytime soon? How about 5-6 years from now?

EE is one of the most widely applicable disciplines. Almost every product made today involves some amount of electrical engineering. I can't imagine any catalyst in the next 5-6 years that would reduce demand for such products. I personally do not see any reason to expect a decrease in demand for EEs in my lifetime.

By the way, EE (and Silicon Valley in general) has shown enormous resistance to the global recession. In my opinion, this speaks very highly of the industry and its security.

- Warren
 
I could possibly see an increase in demand. The difference between electronics and other goods is that electronics are moving forward so fast and companies like this because that means more sales for each generation of product/electronic. It is kind of neat.

I don't know I'm still in high school,but I know a thing or two about electronics. I could be wrong, but it is a solid point. Eventually the novelty of new electronics will level out, but we are still a ways off from that.
 
chroot said:
EE is one of the most widely applicable disciplines. Almost every product made today involves some amount of electrical engineering. I can't imagine any catalyst in the next 5-6 years that would reduce demand for such products. I personally do not see any reason to expect a decrease in demand for EEs in my lifetime.

By the way, EE (and Silicon Valley in general) has shown enormous resistance to the global recession. In my opinion, this speaks very highly of the industry and its security.

- Warren

Do you know if applied mathematicians are being hired in silicon valley? I think that's what I'm going to pursue when I get to college.
 
Silicon Valley will probably continually expand into the future. However, Eventually a lot of the work will start to spread out around the USA. Then it won't just be Silicon Valley it will be the Silicon Nation :P
 
  • #10
^ Silicon India is more like it than Silicon USA, don't you think?
 
  • #11
avant-garde said:
^ Silicon India is more like it than Silicon USA, don't you think?

True... I am just being optimistic ;)
 
  • #12
Well, as an 18 year old applying to colleges and thinking about majors, I wouldn't place too much weight on that opinion lol
 
  • #13
melissa97 said:
I need to make my choice soon on which engineering course I want to apply for. Civil is out of the question because my scholarship doesn't allow Civil and I don't know why. I wanted to choose Electrical/Electronics but I've been hearing people saying there's no market for it and after learning about electromagnetism and circuits, I don't quite fancy the topics. I did some research and so far not so helpful. I'm hopeful someone would enlighten me. Thank you.

blackffff
 

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