Career Path Forecast
According
to the U.S. Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Mechanical engineers can work in many industries and on many types of projects. As a result, their growth rate will differ by the industries that employ them. Mechanical engineers are projected to experience growth in engineering services as companies continue to contract work from these firms. Mechanical engineers will also remain involved in various manufacturing industries, particularly in automotive manufacturing. These engineers will play key roles in improving the range and performance of hybrid and electric cars. However, employment declines in some manufacturing industries will temper overall employment growth of mechanical engineers.
Prospects for mechanical engineers overall are expected to be good. They will be best for those with training in the latest software tools, particularly for computational design and simulation. Such tools allow engineers and designers to take a project from the conceptual phase directly to a finished product, eliminating the need for prototypes.
Mechanical engineering students who can learn to create virtual simulations before proceeding to the design, build, and test stages might find themselves in high demand by companies because these skills will allow firms to reduce product development cycles. Engineers who have experience or training in 3D printing also will have better job prospects.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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