Whetheryou’reinthechemical, equipment and procedures as well as an to be you were hired in a particular
electronic, manufacturing, or increased concern for cost effectiveness. department, and that’s where you spent
other engineering realms, you The significance of this profession’s most of your career,” he said. “But now
could see new horizons open up for your evolution to the manufacturing environ- we’re seeing companies are hiring new
career in the next few years. The U.S. ment all ties back to a convergence with employees and giving them rotations,
employed 1.45 million engineers in 2004, and interdependence between the phar- allowing them to experience different
and by 2014 that figure could increase to maceutical and biotech industries, said parts of the business. If they’re at a
1.64 million, said a U.S. Department of Dan Matlis, president of Axendia in company with specialties in pharmaceuti-
Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics study. Yardley, Penn. (See June In Tech article, cal, medical devices, biotechnology, and
The healthiest growth will be in the “Chemicals to Cell Cultures.”) The term diagnostics, it really gives them a good
professional, scientific, and technicalservic- “biomedical” is sometimes generic, he foundation to be able to leverage and
es, the second largest engineer employer. In said, but based on the definition from the look outside the box. It’s a very repetitive
fact, employment growth should be fastest U.S. Department of Labor, it covers every cycle.”
for biomedical engineers ( 30.7%) and envi- engineering role in the pharmaceutical From an educational standpoint, Matlis
ronmental engineers ( 30.0%). Civil and industry. The DOL site said engineers in said he sees the trend leaning toward a
industrial engineers will see healthy employ- the biomedical realm need a background much tighter alignment between acade-
ment growth as well, with increases of in other engineering specialties, such as mia and industry. Universities are devel-
16.5%and16%respectively. Mechanical, mechanical or electronics engineering, oping programs to address particular
electrical, and chemical engineers will grow in addition to specialized biomedical needs of a specific industry at the under-
moderately. Manufacturing engineer training. graduate and even graduate level, he
employment should grow by only 4.4%. While the good news is “the govern- said. “I’m also seeing continuing educa-
The mining and petroleum industries ment is saying the need for our types of tion courses coming out where instruc-
should see decreases in employment. skills will be higher,” Matlis said, he offers tors tend to be industry people teaching
one cautionary word of advice: “We in an academic environment. They have a
Biomedical engineers need to broaden our knowledge base in wide variety of degrees, ranging from Biomedical engineers develop devices and order to fit into this evolving life sciences chemical, mechanical, and electrical engi-procedures that solve medical and health- market. If you’re a chemical engineer, neering, he said. “So it’s more of a coop-related problems by combining their and you’re used to blending, you need to erative approach with education, knowledge of biology and medicine with grow your skills to understand the overall academia, and industry. My sense is there engineering principles and practices. process and how these generic thera- will be more concentration [in degree Pharmaceutical manufacturing and related pies fit into your core competencies and curriculums]. You’ll still graduate with a industries could see a boost in the demand education, and most definitely enhance Bachelor of Science in engineering, but for biomedical engineers because of the that level of education to fit.” within that there will be more detailed demand for more sophisticated medical “In the pharmaceutical industry, it used concentrations.”
Projected Growth in Engineering Employment: 2004-2014 Chemical engineers
Industry
Manufacturing
Information
Utilities
Government
Enterprise Management
Construction
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Waste Management and Remediation Services
Educational Services, Private
Administrative and Support Services
Percent 4. 4 6. 3
6. 9 13. 4 14.2 18. 3 23. 4 38.2 41. 7 53. 5
Source: Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology
Again, the pharmaceutical industry is your best bet when seeking employment in the chemical manufacturing industry, the study said. Although overall employment in the chemical manufacturing industry is expected to decline, chemical companies will continue to research and develop new chemicals and more efficient processes to increase output of existing chemicals. Service industries such as scientific research and development services, particularly in energy and the developing fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology, should see the most growth for chemical engineers.
References:
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