Engineering jobs, although historically a stable career choice, were not nearly as appealing or “sexy” as Wall Street gigs over the past decade. Although Wall Street jobs may have been one of the most highly sought after careers for the past few years, the economic recession has completely changed everything. After witnessing first-hand how easily the financial industry can crumble in times of economic downturn, many students are becoming less concerned with making a “quick buck” and are more focused on choosing and industry that can provide stability and longevity throughout their entire career.
During a recession, careers that require a certain disciple, such as Engineering, are less affected by the economy. The barrier of entry into the engineering industry has helped create a stable demand for engineering professionals that does not easily fluctuate as a result of the economy. Although the industry may not be growing at a rapid pace, the fact that engineers are still in demand when most industries are declining, make it a very attractive industry. According to Beyond.com, the Engineering industry experienced one of the largest percentage gains in online job postings in Q1 2009, representing the #4 industry for jobs with 7.58 percent of all jobs posted.
When the economy starts to pick up, there will be increased demand for Systems Engineers and Project Engineers as companies look to engage in new projects and initiatives that will require front-line engineering professionals to get the work done. Both of these positions are among the top 5 job titles for engineering professionals in Q1 2009, with Systems Engineer representing the #1 job title with 9.28% of all jobs posted to Engineer-Jobs.com.
