Chemical engineering : Career areas

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, just over half of chemical engineering graduates had entered employment either in the UK or overseas. Of these, almost 63% were engineering professionals.

Approximately 8% became commercial, industrial and public sector managers, which may have been in areas such as manufacturing, mining or energy. Close to 5% became business and finance associate professionals, including estimators and valuers, underwriters, claims assessors, brokers, and investment analysts. Smaller numbers became marketing, sales and advertising professionals, or entered careers in information technology or other professional and technical occupations.

Where are the jobs?

Employers are as diverse as the products they produce and cover a broad range of industrial sectors. Any company involved in large-scale conversion of raw materials into a product will require chemical development engineers.

Major employers are those in gas and oil extraction, oil refining, nuclear and other power generation, and other process industries, including pharmaceuticals, fine and heavy chemicals and agrochemicals. Other manufacturing industries that need chemical engineers include those supplying food and drink, toiletries, pulp and paper, plastic and metals, and fibres and polymers.

Many chemical development engineers work for engineering consultancy and contracting firms. They are likely to be taken on either to design and commission new plant or to modify existing plant.

Engineers are also well equipped for business roles and go into careers in financial services, management or law.

For an insight into employment areas see:

• Engineering - in many areas of engineering, the demand for well-qualified, skilled graduates outstrips supply. There are many opportunities in a wide range of functions in the engineering industry. An upsurge in the industry has provided roles for chemical engineers in processing.
• Energy and utilities - the UK’s energy and utilities industry is a vast and diverse sector comprising oil, petroleum and gas, nuclear power and coal, water and waste management, renewable energy industries, and energy conservation organisations. The sector plays an indispensable role in the global economy, with fossil fuels considered among the world's most important resources.
• Manufacturing - opportunities for graduates are available in research and development, design, production, distribution and logistics management, marketing and sales, finance and IT. The industry is huge, employing around three million people. It accounts for 15% of UK gross domestic product (GDP) and 55% of total exports (Confederation of British Industry (CBI), 2009).

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, with the data being collected within just six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?