Although only a relatively small proportion of engineers leave the profession each year, most job openings will arise from replacement needs. Most replacement openings are created by engineers who transfer to management, sales, or other professional occupations rather than by engineers who leave the labor force. Much of the projected growth in requirements for engineers will stem from the expected higher levels of investment in industrial plant and equipment to meet the demand for more goods and services and to increase productivity. More engineers also will be needed to develop and manufacture defense-related products and to improve transportation facilities. Competitive pressures and advancing technology will force companies to improve and update product designs more rapidly than in the past, further adding to requirements.
Most industries are less likely to lay off engineers than other workers.
Many engineers work on long-term research and development projects or in other activities which often continue even during recessions. However, in industries such as electronics and aerospace, large cutbacks in defense or research and development expenditures may result in layoffs for engineers. New computer-aided design systems enable an engineer to produce or modify a design much more rapidly than previously. This increased productivity might result in decreased employment opportunities for engineers doing most of these routine tasks. However, most of these systems have been used to improve the design process by allowing many more design variations to be produced and analyzed.