Engineering Jobs in Highest Demand Heading into 2020
Just like in 2018, the engineering industry in 2019 showcased the impact of numerous digital technologies. From the continued rise of artificial intelligence and robotics to connected job sites and smart cities, few processes in engineering will leave the digital transformation age unchanged.
While these disruptive technologies contain the promise of increased efficiency, productivity, and safety, some raise concerns about the human obsolescence optimized automation may seem to predict. Rather than replacing human engineering or manufacturing roles, though, these trends instead predict a redefining and adaptation of traditional skillsets as we head towards an engineering future that increasingly intertwines human and technological capabilities.
Amidst such transformation and disruption, this past year was still a robust and fruitful one for the engineering industry, and the overall market growth is projected to continue into 2020 as construction spending follows the overall GDP growth rate. Below, we’ll highlight a few of the more in-demand roles in engineering as we head into the new year.
Civil Engineer
The digital transformation has firmly embedded itself into the world of civil engineering, with more and more city leaders striving to engineer cities that are more sustainable, equitable, resilient, and leverage smarter, more efficient infrastructures. Civil engineers are positioned to be major players in this continuing trend, and with 68% of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, this likely won’t slow down anytime soon.
Average Salary: $84,770
Electrical Engineer
A longtime staple of the engineering workforce, demand for electrical engineers is expected to be steady. The BLS expects 21,000 new jobs will be created by 2026. With so many new technologies consistently emerging, the sophistication of electronic devices and products continues to increase and companies are eager to acquire engineers with the technical prowess and potential to guide their efforts into the future.
Average Salary: $99,070
Controls Engineer
Continuing the trend of technological advancement and innovation, controls engineers are responsible for managing an array of responsibilities including software development, coding, and conceptual systems design. As more industries continue to devote more resources to optimize their automation processes, the demand for skilled controls engineers to execute increasingly complex systems and processes will continue to rise.
Average Salary: $76,178
Automation & Robotics Engineer
As we mentioned at the beginning of the post, robotics technology, and the processes it’s capable of executing continues to evolve. Already used for a variety of tasks from laying brick and tying rebar to filleting fish, robots will continue to take on more and more complex functions. Closely involved in everything from design, development, testing, and implementation, robotics engineers will continue to be sought after as these technologies unlock more potential for automation across multiple industries.
Average Salary: $81, 553
RHM Staffing Solutions
Looking for talented engineers? At RHM, our team of industry experts maintains a robust network of engineering candidates across a variety of disciplines and industries. Get in touch with us today to see how we can connect your organization with top engineering talent.