Career Path Forecast
 According
to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
overall employment of engineering technicians is expected to grow 7
percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as the average for all
occupations. Competitive pressures will force companies to improve and
update manufacturing facilities and product designs, resulting in more
jobs for engineering technicians.
Growth of engineering
technician employment in some design functions may be dampened by
increasing globalization of the development process. To reduce costs and
speed project completion, some companies may relocate part of their
development operations to facilities overseas, impacting both engineers
and engineering technicians -- particularly in electronics and
computer-related specialties. However, much of the work of engineering
technicians requires on-site presence, so demand for engineering
technicians within the U.S. should continue to grow -- particularly in
the environmental, civil, and industrial specialties.
Because engineering
technicians work closely with engineers, employment of engineering
technicians is often influenced by the same local and national economic
conditions that affect engineers. As a result, the employment outlook
varies with industry and specialization.
Aerospace engineering
and operations technicians are expected to have 10 percent employment
growth between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as the average for all
occupations. Increases in the number and scope of military aerospace
projects likely will generate new jobs. New technologies to be used on
commercial aircraft produced during the next decade should also spur
demand for these workers.
Civil engineering
technicians are expected to have 10 percent employment growth between
2006 and 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Spurred
by population growth and the related need to improve the Nation's
infrastructure, more civil engineering technicians will be needed to
expand transportation, water supply, and pollution control systems, as
well as large buildings and building complexes. They also will be needed
to repair or replace existing roads, bridges, and other public
structures.
Electrical and
electronic engineering technicians are expected to have 4 percent
employment growth between 2006 and 2016, more slowly than the average
for all occupations. Although rising demand for electronic
goods--including communications equipment, defense-related equipment,
medical electronics, and consumer products--should continue to drive
demand, foreign competition in design and manufacturing will limit
employment growth.
Electro-mechanical
technicians are expected to have 3 percent employment growth between
2006 and 2016, more slowly than the average for all occupations. As with
the closely-related electrical and electronic engineering technicians
and mechanical engineering technicians, job growth should be driven by
increasing demand for electro-mechanical products such as unmanned
aircraft and robotic equipment. However, growth will be tempered by
advances in productivity and strong foreign competition.
Environmental
engineering technicians are expected to have 25 percent employment
growth between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all
occupations. More environmental engineering technicians will be needed
to comply with environmental regulations and to develop methods of
cleaning up existing hazards. A shift in emphasis toward preventing
problems rather than controlling those that already exist, as well as
increasing public health concerns resulting from population growth, also
will spur demand.
Industrial engineering
technicians are expected to have 10 percent employment growth between
2006 and 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As
firms continue to seek new means of reducing costs and increasing
productivity, demand for industrial engineering technicians to analyze
and improve production processes should increase. This should lead to
some job growth even in manufacturing industries with slowly growing or
declining employment.
Mechanical engineering
technicians are expected to have 6 percent employment growth between
2006 and 2016, more slowly than the average for all occupations. As
mechanical products and components become increasingly complex, demand
for improvements in these products should drive employment growth of
mechanical engineering technicians. However, growth is expected to be
limited by foreign competition in both design services and
manufacturing.
Job prospects will
vary by specialty and location, depending on the health and composition
of local industry. In general, opportunities will be best for
individuals with an associate degree or extensive job training in
engineering technology. As technology becomes more sophisticated,
employers will continue to look for technicians who are skilled in new
technology and require little additional training. An increase in the
number of jobs related to public health and safety should create job
opportunities for engineering technicians with the appropriate training
and certification. In addition to openings from job growth, many job
openings will stem from the need to replace technicians who retire or
leave the labor force.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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