Engineers in Demand

December 23rd, 2008 at 01:30pm Bob Trojan

 An interesting article in today’s WSJ talking about weak job markets and some that remain strong.  Here is an excerpt about….

Engineers in Demand

Engineering is another promising area for job hunters, says Art Lucas, chief executive officer of Lucas Group, a global recruiting firm. “Companies still need people who can come in and design products,” he says. “The manufacturing process also needs to be efficient, so people who have those technical engineering skills are always in demand.” Most sought-after are those who specialize in environmental, biomedical, civil, aerospace and industrial engineering, he adds.

More engineering jobs also are likely to open up in the next year or so, thanks to a proposed stimulus by the incoming presidential administration that will focus on improving infrastructure.

Some employers say they plan to fill more than just vacancies that occur in these critical areas in 2009. They also intend to create more positions and hope to benefit from the current job market’s vast talent pool. Among them is SRI International, a nonprofit based in Menlo Park, Calif., that specializes in engineering, public policy, life science and technology research. “This is a really good opportunity for us to grow,” says Jeanie Tooker, vice president of human resources. SRI will add about 100 new positions next year, mainly for research engineers, bioscientists, computer scientists, education researchers and software developers, she says.

Job hunters are also likely to find newly added positions at organizations that flourish in economic downturns, such as crisis-management companies, universities, career-services providers and law firms that specialize in bankruptcy.

New York-based CRG Partners Group LLC, which helps struggling businesses improve their operating and financial performance, has seen its revenue double in the past six months, says Stephen Gray, senior managing partner. “Demand for our services increases when companies get in trouble,” he says. The company has offices in nine U.S. cities and plans to expand its 100-person work force by up to 50% over the next six months, says Mr. Gray. Openings will be at all career levels, mainly for consultants, analysts and managers, and the firm has no plans to eliminate these positions when the economy rebounds, he adds.

School Still an Option

If you aren’t skilled in any of the areas that offer steady job prospects, it might be time to consider going back to school — particularly if you are in a field that is in decline. Not only will these types of jobs remain promising career options by the time you graduate, there may even be more available. The accounting, information technology, actuarial-science and health-care fields are expected to grow faster than the 7% to 13% average rate for all occupations by 2016, according to the Labor Department.

To help supply the expanding biotechnology sector with talent, North Carolina State University launched the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center in 2007, says Rick Lawless, associate director of strategic support. Located in Raleigh, N.C., it’s also where big pharmaceutical companies Novartis Corp. and Merck & Co. Inc. are in the midst of building new biomanufacturing plants slated for completion in 2010. Mr. Lawless says about 500 jobs are expected to open up as a result.

Entry Filed under: People, Technology, Education & Training, Economy