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.

2. Sustainability Staffing partnership
Few can open an engineering society journal today or attend As demand increases for a talented workforce, engineering firms
an engineering conference without learning about sustainability and corporations are reaffirming their need to partner with trusted
efforts. Sustainability projects that involve energy conservation, recruiting and staffing agencies. These valuable partnerships can
emissions control, renewable energy systems, or waste reduction all directly contribute to a firm’s success, especially in the face of
require engineering work to be performed by electrical engineers, ongoing talent shortages.
environmental engineers, and energy engineers. The lightweighting
of products and packaging is another area within technical
sustainability work that should continue to expand.
Systems engineering Do you have a trusted advisor?
Manufacturers of electromechanical devices and other complex It’s not enough for a staffing agency to say they are a trusted advisor
products are bringing in more and more interdisciplinary systems to the engineering industry. They need to demonstrate that they
engineers who can bring all the pieces together—including understand engineering-related business needs, as well as the
the mechanical structure, hardware, embedded software, and technical side of the practice of engineering. Take the time to verify
electronics—for a working end-product. Systems engineers evaluate that your staffing agency is well positioned to supply the talent you
all components to make sure that their customers receive a delivered demand, and can point you to additional cost-saving workforce
product that performs as desired. Expect to see an increasing solutions.
demand for these talented individuals.
We hope that you find our 2013 update informative, and will consider
Kelly when making your engineering staffing decisions this year. We
would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this information and
ways that we can help you succeed.
Contact us
As an engineering business, you can trust Kelly for
reliable workforce support and leading recruitment practices.
Visit kellyengineering.us to find the office nearest you.
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