Survey predicts shortage of experienced engineers

Engineers Canada has released a labour market study that shows Canada will be short of experienced engineers in the next decade.

The report “Engineering Labour Market in Canada: Projections to 2020” predicts that 95,000 professional engineers will retire in 2020.  The Ottawa-based umbrella organization for the provincial licensing associations says that “supply and demand imbalances are becoming more serious. While engineering labour market conditions vary from region to region, markets must find ways to strike a balance between retiring workers and training incoming graduates and international engineers interested in working in Canada.”

Areas of employment growth will be where there is investment in resources, utilities and infrastructure. The growth will be “particularly evident west of Quebec, meaning engineers who are willing to move will find many prospects.”

Overall growth in jobs is forecast to be weaker than earlier estimates thanks to the weak global economy and restraints on government spending.

The report includes demographic trends and an overview of disciplines and geographic markets, and a forecast of international prospects.

The report was produced by Ranstad Engineering Canada.

To see the report, click here.