Engineering and Technology Labour Remains in Demand
Engineers Canada and the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists have released an interim report on the results from the Engineering and Technology Labour Market Study.The study’s objectives are to assess employer labour requirements, the available workforce, attitudes and practices related to certification and licensing, diversity, and globalization. The interim report covers the first three topics, while reports on diversity and globalization are forthcoming.
The report’s snapshot of the engineering and technology labour market showed that two-thirds of individuals with a Canadian university degree in engineering were employed outside of engineering occupations. For those who obtained their degree outside of Canada, the proportion was over 80%.
Individuals who obtained their engineering degrees outside of Canada accounted for approximately 20% of all employment in engineering occupations.
Since 2002, post-secondary enrolment in engineering and technology has declined. Study results showed that approximately 30% of individuals working in engineering occupations were not university graduates.
The short-term outlook is that overall employment demand for engineers, technologists and technicians is projected to rise, increasing by approximately 3.6% every year until 2010; however, the far-reaching effects of the economic downturn in the United States are expected to bring this projection down. In western Canada, the labour market will continue to see significant demand for all engineering and technology occupations in 2009. That demand will moderate somewhat in 2010.
With regards to licensure and certification, the report notes that diverging employment and licensure trends suggest that there are weaknesses in support for the systems of professional licensure and certification. Weaknesses that could, or may already pose a serious challenge. At the same time, the report also identifies the value of licensure and certification in maintaining a culture of professionalism and ethics.
More information on the study and copy of the full report are available online at etlms.engineerscanada.ca.