<p>Does anyone know what the outlook for chemical engineers is looking like?
Im a junior in highschool thinking of going into chemical engineering, so if i got a bachelors degree i would be looking for a job around 2018.
Will chemical engineers be in demand or will i have a hard time finding a job?</p>
<p>No one knows. It is folly to try to predict the market, and it could be bad or good at any given time.</p>
<p>Check out Bureau of Labor statistics for chemical engineer ([Chemical</a> Engineers : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/chemical-engineers.htm]Chemical”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/chemical-engineers.htm)). They say there’s a growth of 6% in the next ten years, but based on my experiences and those of my colleagues that doesn’t appear to be the case. Last year, it said there was an 8% decline, which felt more accurate. Chemical engineering is a very small field, despite being consider a universal engineering field, so don’t expect working in this area should you choose to study it.</p>
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The fact that BLS predictions vary so much helps prove that no one really knows what the market will look like. At least, not without insider information, which I doubt you have access to.
No one who knows how things will turn out will have any reason to tell you.</p>
<p>[Outlook</a> for Chemical Industry :: ChemViews Magazine :: ChemistryViews](<a href=“Outlook for Chemical Industry - ChemistryViews”>Outlook for Chemical Industry - ChemistryViews)</p>
<p>"North America
Unlike Europe, the chemical industry especially the petrochemical industry in North America is currently enjoying a significant raw material and energy cost advantage compared to most other regions in the world. The exploration of unconventional gas sources, most often known as shale gas, allows the production of large volumes of natural gas, ethane and naturals gas liquids in the United States. Accordingly, current gas prices in the United States are significantly lower than in Europe, leading to lower energy costs and offering a large feedstock advantage to all producers of natural gas-based products like, for example, methanol or ammonia.</p>
<p>Moreover, the large volumes of ethane obtained as a by-product in shale gas production have changed the cost position of North American cracker operators from an inferior rank to the second best topped only by operators in the Middle East. This has resulted in idled plants being restarted in North America and in a conversion from naphtha to ethane as cracker feedstock. In addition, investments to install some 11 million tons of ethylene capacity, all based on ethane, have been announced for the coming years, as well as a considerable expansion in downstream capacity for products like polyethylene and ethylene glycol."</p>
<p>It totally depends on your area</p>