When it Comes to Engineers, Demand Exceeds Supply
When it Comes to Engineers, Demand Exceeds Supply
The engineering workforce is aging but also growing slowly and steadily. And while female employee numbers are growing, there’s still room for a tremendous amount of growth in that area.
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There are currently 4.83 million people working in the U.S. engineering sector. And mechanical engineers comprise one of the largest engineering segments at 208,907, or 4.33 percent of that total. Year over year, this sector is growing at only 3.48 percent. But with an average employee age of 43, just over the horizon is a cohort of engineers getting ready to retire. The story is the same in manufacturing, with a little over 240,000 manufacturing engineers currently employed in the U.S. And of that population, the average age is 42 years old.
One population that can help with the talent shortage looming on the horizon is decidedly female. But a gender disparity remains in STEM fields. Women may make up 34 percent of the workforce, but within engineering, the gap is more pronounced. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up roughly 17.2 percent of engineers and architects in 2024.
Overall, this information reveals that this workforce is growing slowly but also increasingly aging. And while female employee numbers are growing, there’s still room for a tremendous amount of growth in that area. The other factor is the need for elementary and middle school educators to focus on STEM programs. But keeping students excited through high school and exposing them to scientific opportunity remains an industry challenge.
One population that can help with the talent shortage looming on the horizon is decidedly female. But a gender disparity remains in STEM fields. Women may make up 34 percent of the workforce, but within engineering, the gap is more pronounced. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up roughly 17.2 percent of engineers and architects in 2024.
Overall, this information reveals that this workforce is growing slowly but also increasingly aging. And while female employee numbers are growing, there’s still room for a tremendous amount of growth in that area. The other factor is the need for elementary and middle school educators to focus on STEM programs. But keeping students excited through high school and exposing them to scientific opportunity remains an industry challenge.