What does the future hold for engineers?

With increasing demand for new technology, products and materials, your engineering degree could be the starting point for an exciting and valuable career.

But which types of engineers will be in greatest demand in the next five, ten or even twenty years? This month, we gaze into our crystal ball to predict the hottest engineering careers of the future.

What can an engineer do?

Engineers apply math and science theory to practical and specific fields. And the results have profound effects on the cities we live in (civil engineers), the way we travel (mechanical engineers), the technology we can access (computer engineers) and the way we overcome health problems (chemical and biomedical engineers).  And that’s not all – where would be without manufacturing engineers, electrical engineers or automotive engineers?

Global engineering trends

If you’re looking for high-growth career opportunities, think about the following fields for your engineering course.

Engineering our bodies

Biomedical engineer employment is expected to grow by 21% by 2016 in the USA – much faster than the average for all occupations. Our aging populations and focus on health issues mean we will need better health devices and equipment. And these are all designed by biomedical engineers.
As a biomedical engineer, you may develop new artificial organs or prostheses, devices to help with diagnosis (such as MRI scans), or safety devices for the police, military or firefighters.

Engineering to protect the planet

Sustainability and environmental engineer employment is predicted to grow by 25% by 2016. In many countries, concern over public health issues and resources mean that ‘green’ building codes will require new environmentally sustainable building techniques.

Sustainable design engineers refine their designs to use less energy, labour and materials, and make sure the end result blends into the environment. As well as reducing costs and using less resources, it creates a healthier living or work environment.

Environmental engineers may also look into alternative energy sources, developing new ways to turn wind, solar or some other energy into electricity or fuels for our homes, cars and cities.

Engineering for faster idea sharing (and fun)

Computer engineers will still be in high demand, with the pace of change in this industry continuing to skyrocket. As well as new devices to make information sharing more efficient (such as mobile or PDA technology), games and social software will continue to provide a fun and creative career option.

The University of Greenwich, in London, offers over 62 different engineering courses, including Games and Entertainment Software and Internet Engineering. Over 4,000 international students choose this excellent modern university (just over 100 years old) because of its excellent academic reputation and links with industry

Engineering a source of light

Photonics is a big growth area of electrical engineers. In photonics, you look at how light (including lasers) can be used in areas such as medical diagnostics, data communication, fusion energy or laser defence. Fibre-optic technology, barcode scanners and laser printers are all examples of photonics in action.

Engineering in business

You may be surprised to learn that engineering is the most common undergraduate degree amongst Fortune 500 CEOs. Many business leaders start with engineering because it helps them to develop their problem-solving skills.

It is possible to combine an engineering degree with a business degree. In Australia, you can study a five-year double degree in Engineering and Business Administration or Engineering and Commerce at Macquarie University. It’s a great study option if you want to combine a commercial point of view with an innovative way of looking at problems.

If you’re interested in engineering, but not sure what you want to specialise it, start with a general engineering program for your first year. Thompson Rivers University, in Canada, offers a one-year Engineering Transfer program. After that year, you can transfer to a Bachelor Degree in Engineering at a number of Canadian universities.

Or you can start with a Diploma in Engineering and see what inspires you. In the USA, Long Beach City College offers a Diploma in Engineering. You’ll need further study to qualify in any of these specific fields, but it’s a good way to see if engineering is right for you.

To find out more about engineering courses, check out our Engineering Directory.