Engineering and Scientific ManpowerA Scarce Resource for the 1970's
Authors: Baker Merl 
Published: December 2007

Introduction

Today our friends in the news media are asking, "Where are the unemployed engineers and scientists of 18 months ago?" Recruiters are already voicing alarm! They are not filling their quotas at the better institutions. It is doubtful that they can fill their quotas even from the schools with lesser reputations. It will be easier for the recruiters seeking PhD's as the demands in education for these advanced degrees are not as great. Shifts in national priorities have naturally caused personnel changes in all fields, not just in engineering personnel changes in all fields, not just in engineering and science as you might have been led to believe. For example, the SST was anticipated engineering and science as you might have been this program. So naturally when this program was cancelled abruptly, these people had nothing to do. This surplus was like the flood from a broken dam. It takes time for any professionally trained person to relocated wisely. Relocating has been the answer person to relocated wisely. Relocating has been the answer for most engineers and scientists. The reservoir no longer exists.

ANNUAL DEMAND NOW EXCEEDS ANNUAL PRODUCTION

Many of the unemployment problems publicized about the so-called engineer were brought about not by the degree man from a good institution, but by the technicians, who were holding jobs with the title of "engineer". Unfortunately, the Department Labor and the press made no differentiation between these subprofessionals and the qualified, degreed engineers. Some of these good technicians are still trying to relocate as engineers rather than seeking a technician's job for which they are qualified. The following thoughts on supply and demand relate to a 4-year degreed engineer or scientist, or one with an advanced degree, not to the technicians.

SUPPLY

Data are not so readily available for scientists as for engineers, but the trends are usually similar. Fig. 1 shows the BS degrees awarded in the U. S. since 1960 and the projection through 1976. The projections are accurate because the 1976 graduates projections are accurate because the 1976 graduates are already freshmen. We are not sure about the projection beyond 1976, but unless there is a projection beyond 1976, but unless there is a national move by industry and government to interest high school graduates in entering these fields, the number could go even lower before starting up again. Masters and PhD degrees are also expected to decrease up to 1975.

DEMAND

The annual demand in these fields has historically been cyclic. Periods of war and peace affect this, and a rising economy amplifies the demand. The priority government places on research varies priority government places on research varies demands, and construction and numerous aspects of technology affect demands. The current national emphasis on pollution control and solution of societal problems will drastically increase the demands for the future. Engineers going into new fields such as insurance and finance will also create an even greater demand for their services. They are found to be most valuable in assessing risks, establishing safety standards and resolving claims in many fields of concern. An engineer may also be of value in assessing the feasibility of a product or operation being considered for a new product or operation being considered for a new stock issue or for listing with a security exchange. I feel that more and better technology is required to restore the balance of trade to a favorable level for the U.S.

P. 61