Solving the Engineering Talent Shortage
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. engineering industry needs roughly 400,000 new engineers each year, yet nearly one-third of roles are projected to go unfilled through 2030—underscoring the urgent need for creative recruitment and retention strategies.
- Firms must shift the narrative by highlighting how AI, technology, and creativity are reshaping engineering roles—and emphasize the positive community impact that modern infrastructure projects deliver.
- Programs like Arizona’s “STEM Game Days” and strong internship experiences help young people connect real-world engineering projects with tangible results, inspiring future professionals.
By Rodney Chester, Contributing Author
By now, we all know the challenge we’re facing when it comes to recruiting and retaining talent in our industry. Each year, the U.S. engineering industry needs about 400,000 new engineers, yet about one-third of engineering roles are expected to remain unfilled through at least 2030.
It’s incumbent on us to do a better job of explaining to young people why a career in engineering is an exciting and fulfilling path.
As a CEO, my top priority is creating and maintaining an environment where our employees can honestly say that they love where they work. But that’s only part of the message. We need to show our employees and future prospects that their work has purpose and is having a positive impact on their communities.
Going forward, we need to communicate to the younger generations that work in the engineering fields can be extremely rewarding.
In my role as the chair of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Workforce Committee, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with leaders nationwide, sharing best practices and ideas for closing this gap. Here are some ideas to consider:
Change the Narrative
First, we should think about the way we talk about engineering. It’s no longer just about putting pen to paper or stamping plans.
We’re using artificial intelligence to automate mundane design tasks and free our people to be more creative in their jobs. Young people need to know that engineers can use AI in their work, and we should encourage them to bring new ideas and technology to improve how we deliver our projects.
Remember that we are competing for talent with Big Tech and other industries that are seen as exciting places to work.
Promote Exciting Projects
In Arizona, the local ACEC chapter has organized a campaign called “STEM Game Days” to allow hundreds of middle and high school students to tour some of the state’s largest college sports facilities, such as Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University.
These tours give students insight into how innovative engineering professionals planned, designed, constructed and operated college stadiums. Experiences like “Game Days” illustrate how engineering is an exciting industry. It also creates important memories and connections that we need to be making with young people today.
Invest in Intern Programs
Most consulting firms already offer summer internships, but the key to making an impact is ensuring these students come away with a positive experience.
Many college students know that they might have an interest in our industry, but they’re not sure exactly what type of discipline to pursue. Therefore, expose them to as many parts of the business as possible. That way, when it comes time for them to enter the job market, they’ll see engineering as a compelling career option.
Community Outreach
As a firm, we look at higher education opportunities in the communities where we have offices.
Our future needs extend beyond licensed professional engineers, requiring other types of design, technology and project management roles.
We’ve found success partnering with local community colleges to offer programs that train students in specific aspects of our industry. This helps students learn about some of the building blocks of an engineering career.
Start Small
Rather than recreating the wheel with a new program, firms should engage with organizations like ACE Mentor on the local level.
With ACE, young people can work on a mock design project with oversight from local experts.
Committing to just a few events a year in your local community is something we can all do.
If you’re an organization in the engineering industry that wants to play a bigger role in addressing this critically important issue, you can learn more about ACEC’s Workforce Committee on their website: https://www.acec.org.
Rodney Chester is CEO and board chair of Gresham Smith, an architecture, engineering and consultancy services firm. He also serves as chair of ACEC’s Workforce Committee.