Features: Reasons to consider working in the engineering industry

Written by Luke Berté, Editor, Graduate Prospects, April 2013

Roles in engineering promise job security, good pay and the chance to climb the career ladder

There are many strands of this sector which you can enter into, with a wealth of UK companies being supported by a network of professional bodies. Many of the larger companies such as Nestle and Jaguar Land Rover offer graduate schemes, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are worth approaching for internships and work experience.

 

If you've been considering working in the engineering sector but you don't know what to expect, then these points could help you make a more informed decision. 

1. Job security

Engineering is a vital cog in the growth of the globalised world. But, with an ageing workforce and a skills shortage, more than 2 million engineers are required in the UK over the next ten years. When the economy begins to grow again, those who follow engineering careers now, could reap the most rewards later on.

With jobs on the horizon the future of the industry looks secure. For those graduates that have a degree in maths, technology or science, you are on the right track to pursue work as an engineer.

2. Pay

The national average for graduate salaries, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)  Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2010/11 is £19,935. The average pay of an engineer professional is £24,615.

Depending on the exact role you choose, this figure can be slightly more or less, increasing with experience and qualifications. Automotive engineers starting salaries are between £23,000 and £30,000 while a chemical engineer starts at around £28,000.

Engineering jobs are renowned for paying bigger wages than most other industries. Earnings over an entire career greatly eclipse those of the creative industries where graduate positions have much lower starting salaries at around £15,000. 

3. Climb the ladder

Sustaining the environment, the advancements of technology and improving services are global issues that depend on the development of engineering for future progress. Large-scale projects keep the industry busy and expanding, leaving room for the hardest working and most entrepreneurial individuals to move onwards and upwards.

Professional development and training can be vital for promotions and gaining more responsibility. To become a chartered engineer you will need to undertake postgraduate study, but joining a professional body can give you:

• access to life-long training that can move you up the career ladder;
• enhanced status, giving you more influence within your company and the industry;
• international recognition;
• a high-earning potential.

4. Help the environment

 

Professional engineers are increasingly required to play a leadership role in sustainable development, overcoming global challenges, such as the depletion of resources, environmental pollution, rapid population growth and damage to ecosystems.

If you are passionate about the state of the environment and want to have a direct impact on its sustainability, the engineering sector could present the perfect role for you.

Six principles have been developed by the Engineering Council to guide and motivate professional engineers and technicians which describes their roles in relation to sustainability. These principles allow them to achieve sustainable development in their work, and help them to meet professional obligations to seek to achieve sustainability. 

More information can be found at The Engineering Council – Sustainability

5. Engineering jobs abroad

Katy Turff, head of international at The Engineering Council tells us about the current state of the industry abroad and where workers are most in demand

Many countries report a shortage of engineers in their labour force and actively recruit new as well as experienced engineering graduates, those who have worked before studying. We have heard from our partners in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa that they have significant shortages of engineers across all disciplines.

Australia has high demand from China for raw materials which creates a demand for graduates; Hong Kong and South Africa have major infrastructure programmes planned for which they expect to need to recruit migrant engineers.

Germany is also understood to have a substantial shortfall of engineers, perhaps geared towards the manufacturing sector.Despite the global financial crisis, a variety of reports continue to indicate shortages of most types of engineers in many European countries, especially in the North.