What trends can engineering managers expect to see through
2013? While details may vary between specific industry verticals,
a number of key issues will remain important, and possibly
increase in significance throughout most industry segments.
Kelly® is pleased to provide this brief outlook on significant
workforce trends that are expected to impact talent in the
engineering industry for 2013. Through our ongoing discussions
with leading firms and corporate clients, we are able to offer a
unique perspective on the engineering talent market for the year
to come and beyond.
1. kellyengineering.us
2013
industry trends for
engineering talent
What trends can engineering managers expect to see through
2013? While details may vary between specific industry verticals,
a number of key issues will remain important, and possibly
increase in significance throughout most industry segments.
Kelly® is pleased to provide this brief outlook on significant
workforce trends that are expected to impact talent in the
engineering industry for 2013. Through our ongoing discussions
with leading firms and corporate clients, we are able to offer a
unique perspective on the engineering talent market for the year
to come and beyond.
Efficiency Re-shoring
The trends we see in engineering have a common thread: efficiency Manufacturers may be increasingly open to re-shoring manufacturing
improvement and waste reduction. Automation, quality, sustainability, work back to North America as a result of difficulties with sourcing
systems engineering, and re-shoring, have created significant demand overseas talent, and shrinking cost advantages for doing so. One trend
for engineering work in 2012, and solutions for related technical talent may be the sharply increased demand for manufacturing engineers and
will remain in demand through 2013. plant/facilities engineers. This could result in a wage competition (and
a wage spike) for qualified candidates.
Automation
The so-called “jobless recovery,” the tremendous improvement in Quality engineering
worker productivity, and the talent gap in manufacturing can be Quality engineering will remain in very high demand throughout
attributed—at least, in part—to the widespread adoption and recent most industrial segments in 2013. A strong percentage of hiring in
improvements in industrial automation and plant automation systems. the industrial engineering standard occupational classification (SOC)
As a result, there will be significant competition in 2013 for talented category can be attributed to demand for quality engineers. The
professionals such as instrumentation and controls technicians, prevalence of Lean Six Sigma and the universal importance of product
automation engineers, and process control systems designers. and process quality throughout most industries will only continue to
drive a need for quality engineers well into the future.