This is true. In a recent leadership debate published in the August 1997 IEEE Institute , it was noted that the probability of long-term employment in the electrical engineering profession is decreasing. Many successful electrical engineers now follow the common practice in civil engineering where most of the practitioners do work in a consulting capacity or with small companies. The issue was raised that we need to learn how to engineer our careers. Engineering our careers is important because each professional engineer is an ambassador for the profession.
Dual participation is important for another reason.
The engineering profession is the only profession that is trained to add value to society. However, to be able to add value, the individual engineer must have a comprehensive education. This education must not only be highly technical but encompass leadership skills, project management, marketing, communications and economics, as well as ethics. Formal ABET education is inherently technical. Proposals to broaden the focus of engineering education will not change the fact that engineering education will remain inherently technical.