Mechanical engineers design, develop, create and maintain machines. Bascially, anything with moving parts is right within this engineer’s purview. It’s one of the broadest disciplines, and as such, a degree opens up numerous opportunities for jobs in mechanical engineering.
You can find employment as a consultant or manager in industries like aerospace, automotive, energy and manufacturing, among others. You can even take on further studies and obtain sufficient experience to gain lucrative employment abroad.
What’s in store for mechanical engineers in 2019?
Engineering UK’s Success
Last year’s Engineer Salary Survey may show a dip in the wages for engineers in the oil and gas as well as the pharmaceuticals sectors. Some sectors, on the other hand, are increasing wages for engineers; these sectors include automotive; defence, security and marine; food, drink and consumer goods, and aerospace.
Even with slightly lower and somewhat stable wages, engineers are still ahead of other professions when it comes to earning income. The mean starting salary for graduates in engineering and technology is 18 per cent more than other graduates.
Engineers will always have a job in many industries. Why? Engineering is a critical aspect to the UK economy. It’s a crucial sector that improves productivity, providing a strong multiplier effect and contributing £1.45 Gross Value Added (GVA) for every £1 GVA, according to an EngineeringUK report.
Future forecast for this profession is bright. The Warwick Institute for Employment Studies shares that from 2014 to 2024, industries will create 1,240,000 graduate and technician core engineering jobs. Every year, about 203,000 Level 3+ engineering skills will be required to meet 2024’s demand, the EngineeringUK report adds.
The Industries in Need of Mechanical Engineers
Here are some of the fields in need of mechanical engineers.
Petroleum engineering: Mechanical engineers are most likely here to stay to do most of the job. While AI-based products and services undergo further development, they still can’t replace and displace the complex and conventional labor offered by man.
Nanotechnology: The innovation in nanotechnology will most likely create positions for mechanical engineers in the future.
Biomechanics: This field needs the work of mechanical engineers to better understand living organisms. Biomechanics is after the mechanical principles of human movement to provide the body functions that others lack.
Clean energy: Mechanical engineers can expect steady growth in this field, which boomed due to a demand in sustainable energy sources.
Adapting to Technologies
Times, of course, have changed even for mechanical engineers. The future brings modern approaches better than the methods used at present. Technologies will improve the work of mechanical engineers, but it won’t necessarily replace them.
The next step for mechanical engineers is to focus on improving performance. Adapting to the changes will help make the transition easier. Artificial Intelligence and Big Data (which will create 157,000 new jobs by 2020) are about to make some changes.
Mechanical engineers, like all jobs, need to keep up with the fast-paced digital era. Acquiring further skills is necessary. Those who fail to do so will have no choice but get left behind.
