<p>I was looking through the BLS and noticed that the projected growth rate for mechanical engineers for the next ten years was slower than average. Should this bother me? I googled jobs for mechanical engineers in my area and it didn't come up with a ton and much of what did come up with you needed experience.</p>
<p>Yes there are jobs, and note that it’s still a growth rate, so the job pool is still expected to be growing, even if a bit slower than some other fields.</p>
<p>Well there are a lot of areas in which mechanical engineers are needed, but as you noted, many of them want experience, and a lot of jobs have more applicants than open positions. I think what you’re really asking is whether or not the prospects for an ME are good. They aren’t bad, but they are probably weaker than you’d want them to be. Employers definitely get to pick and choose at this point.</p>
<p>Should it bother you? Definitely. Ignoring the possibility of bad job prospects is a nice way to receive a nasty surprise upon graduation. Take a look at what IS available, and if there’s any specific specialty that seems to be popular in your area.</p>
<p>From what I’ve read, it really helps to have an undergrad internship or co-op experience. </p>
<p>I’m also a prospective mechanical engineer (though still in high school). I’m debating this major and a materials science/engineering major. From what I heard (I don’t really have any sources), engineering in general is one of the best fields to go into in terms of job opportunities. I’m sure mechanical engineers are trained to be flexible, so even though you are trained as a mechanical engineer, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something related but not exactly the same.</p>
<p>Someone please correct me if I am wrong, of course.</p>
<p>Lot’s of jobs if your experienced, I get contacted by recruiters a few times a week for jobs all over the place salaries are often better from what I’m making now often >$100K, I just do not want to move. Keep in mind that the graduate rate in the USA for Engineers is way below what it use to be years ago and overall qualified people with skills prior to a degree are in decline, fact is we do not make as much as we use to in this country and many jobs disappeared and won’t be coming back ever.</p>
<p>China and India is producing more graduates, the only concern for the future due to the impending shortage with retiring qualified people is a influx of H-1B holders who will work for nothing.</p>
<p><a href=“How H-1B Visas Are Screwing Tech Workers – Mother Jones”>http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/silicon-valley-h1b-visas-hurt-tech-workers</a></p>
<p>Best suggestion I can make for a real future proof job is Robotics/Automation, pursue a degree in Robotics Engineering, because automation and robotics will be replacing even more jobs that exist today. </p>
<p>@ssoulin in addition to what you said a large portion of STEM majors in graduate/phd programs are international students who are taking their brains back over seas when they graduate.</p>
<p>Yes, that too but that frees up jobs here doesn’t it?</p>