Hello everyone!
I’ve been looking at ME and a concern for me is that the supply for ME is much larger than the amount of jobs available. I’m also worried if there is a negative trend in jobs. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Where are you hearing that there are too many MEs? All the labor stats that I’ve seen is that there are not enough domestic engineers and the field continues to grow/expand.
ME is one of the most versatile engineering degrees and can work in all kinds of fields.
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Maybe @boneh3ad, @HPuck35, @Gator88NE, @ClassicRockerDad, @xraymancs or @momocarly can opine.
You know my opinion. It’s a diverse degree with lots of jobs, not tied to a specific industry or even sector.
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My dad was a civil engineer, and he says that based on opinions from his college friends that are ME’s. His friends are also saying that the amount of applicants is increasing, and the rate isn’t proportional to the job market increase. I did some research before posting though, and the increase in ME undergrads (https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d01/dt289.asp) looked larger than the 4% increase in jobs according to US bureau of labor, so I was a little concerned.
I’m not sure you linked the correct figure. It ends in 2000.
Remember anecdote is just that…one person’s opinion. They may be influenced by many things, stagnant or compressing industry, burnout, etc.
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My bad. This one is the most recent I could find, but it also ends in 2012.
I haven’t heard through my daughter or through my husband that they’re not hiring ME’s. If anything, ME’s are on those long-term contracts.
Right now there are some large corporate employers that are scaling back some engineers and layoff notices have been given. However, from what I understand it’s in response to short-term Pentagon budget cuts. Once the economy gets into full swing, those jobs will be back.
Also remember that as a non-green card holder or a non US citizen you need to really check the places of employment where you may qualify to be employed.
You need to permission to work in the US, Even after living your whole life in the US.
Yeah, I will have to apply for an H1 visa once I graduate college. I also can’t work for any companies that involve national security (Lockheed Martin, NASA, etc.), unless I become a citizen.
The not being a citizen will hinder you more than ME vs EE, etc. Many companies who have choices to hire a citizen or a non-citizen will choose the citizen because they don’t know what work they may try to get in the future and a non-citizen may not be able to work on the projects. I think in general the number of Engineers graduating is growing. Companies do have more choices in who they hire. It just may mean some students don’t get their first, second or third choice of a job. Does it mean they won’t get one? No. There are jobs out there. I have not hear where I am there are too many of a certain type of engineer. A lot of companies hire engineers and don’t even look at the specific type. They train and frequently their work spans disciplines. ME or EE are good overall degrees that can go to multiple industries.
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Thank you for a detailed response!
Is this something that happens in all countries around the world, or is it mostly american companies? I was thinking of moving to Canada after I finish my studies here, and I could get Permanent residence quicker.
Ah, second-hand anecdotes, the gold standard for data-driven decision-making.
You’re forgetting the massive number of baby boomers retiring. You’re also projecting out into the future, which is never certain. It’s also obviously very incomplete data. 9 years is an eternity in terms of economic changes.
Ultimately, study what interests you the most and knock it out of the park and you will be fine.
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Ultimate truth!
IF there’s a contraction, the ones struggling the most will be those who did the least. Get good grades, involve yourself in clubs and/or research and your record will be compelling.
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I agree with @boneh3ad to study what interests you most. By the time you graduate things may not be the same as now or 2012 or 2000. For what it is worth, from my observation being a faculty member in a technical university, Mechanical Engineers have no problem finding good jobs after graduation.
Not data driven in any way but sometimes things just make sense. If we’re going to be on a national infrastructure binge, sounds to me like a lot of demand for MEs and all kinds of engineers.
Honestly I can’t tell you. I only have expertise with US companies. I know we have had a crazy time trying to hire a Canadian. Ended up not happening. Not sure about the reverse. Hopefully others can help you.
My D just graduated with a BSME from Purdue and had multiple offers. A vast majority of friends are employed and ME is one of the restricted majors with a higher bar for secondary admission, even though it’s the largest at the school. So if there’s a glut, it’s certainly not reflected at her school.
If the data from 2000 and 2012 indicated an impending excess of MechE’s, I think subsequent events shows the quality of that data/those predictions. (Hint - it’s not good).
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Even when there are no security clearance or similar issues where citizenship or nationality can matter, sponsoring a work visa is more hassle and cost for the employer (as well as the employee), so that hiring a citizen or permanent resident is easier for the employer.
Different countries have different levels of friendliness to non-citizen skilled workers. Canada may be more friendly than the US in this respect.
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The country that your father lives and works in may not necessarily have a similar job market for mechanical engineers as some other country may have.
My understanding is that an international student graduated from a Canadian university has a much much better chance of working and staying in Canada than a similar international student graduated from a US university to work/stay in either US or Canada.
My two kids were ME majors and graduated 10 and 7 years ago when demand for ME majors was kind of in the doldrums. However, both were able to finds good jobs right out of college. Todays job environment seems much better.
Your issue will be the non-US and no green card status. Larger companies, such as the one I worked at, won’t touch a non-US person. They like to be able to move people around as necessary to different projects. Some of those projects would be classified and therefore a non-starter for a non-US person. Smaller companies don’t always have that issue depending on their product line.
Your bigger issue is the lack of a green card. Most companies, big and small, won’t sponsor a person to get a green card. Without a green card, it is my understanding that you are not permitted to work in the US. So, can you get a green card?
An H1 visa for a recent college grad seems to me to be a stretch as my understanding of the H1 visa is that it is for a person with a specific specialty, not just a recent grad.
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