What is the employment rate for graduates with a Civil Engineering degree?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for civil engineers will grow at about 19% from 2010 to 2020. In 2010 there were 262,800 civil engineer jobs, and by 2020 51,100 jobs will need to be filled (see here). Based on research from Georgetown, unemployment rate for civil engineers (and other types of engineers in general) in 2010 were among the lowest of any college major. It's 4.9% for civil engineers, 3.8% for mechanical engineers, and 5% for electrical engineers. Given job growth trends, it seems like employment prospects for civil engineers are likely to remain good for the next decade. Also, studying engineering and getting a good fundamental grasp on math and problem solving will be helpful regardless of what career you decide to pursue.

1. Civil Engineering gives you a good background in math, chemistry, hydraulics, soils, structural, materials. Every city and state has engineering consulting firms that hire civil engineers many who then over years become Project Engineers and Project Managers.


2. after completion of a general civil engineering degree you may decide to go to grad school and further develop your skills as a structural or geotechnical or transportation engineer. Your employment value increases especially if you decide that one particular focus is where you want to be.

After completion of my general civil engineer degree I completed a masters in environmental (water and wastewater). This was necessary to devote my next 30 years in this very technical field.