Martin
Which jobs in the Civil Engineering field have the best outlook?
I'm 16 and I'm interested about Civil Engineering, but I don't know how secure a career in it would be. #engineering #career #job #civil-engineering #outlook
3 answers
Harikrishna Patadiya
Harikrishna’s Answer
One of the most secure careers within Civil Engineering, as far as my understanding of the profession goes, is to work for the city. A city needs structural engineers to validate any plans made by architects and such to make sure that the building won't collapse under the environmental factors that surround the proposed building. This is a very important job because an engineer has to be very careful in checking and rechecking all the calculations because a building construction would only start after the signature from a city structural engineer is acquired.
For example, say want to build a 100 story building (an office complex) in San Francisco. Your architects and your own structural engineers would make up a plan and come to me, the city structural engineer. I would then have to go through the whole plan and see if this building is safe enough for any earthquakes that are common in SF and if it will sustain any wind effects on the building. If I see a problem in the calculation, I return the drawings to you to revise. I would also have to make sure that the building is compatible with the NFPA fire protection codes, city building codes, state codes, and many more codes. It is my responsibility to make sure everything is fine before I sign off on the 100 story office building plans. It is a big responsibility with very good benefits.
One of the important requirements for the job is that the engineer must be a PE (Professional Engineer) registered with the state. This is a rigorous exam that a structural engineer must pass. In many universities, the pre-requisite of this certification, FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) or EIT (Engineer in Training) is a requirement for graduation for Bachelors in Civil Engineering degree.
One can also work for the builders where they actually design the building. This is also a very nice opportunity because this has similar job requirements and if you find a job with a builder who has many projects, then you will always have a new building, a new puzzle to design and assemble. A professor of civil engineering at a university would be able to give more insights on different job opportunities. That is usually a good start to understand opportunities in the given engineering discipline.
Thank You for this Information
Dominique
Maria Lalousis
Maria’s Answer
I am a civil engineer and I am still confident on future of the profession. Civil Engineering will be needed for the upgrade of a lot of existing infrastructure, but also it is something you can do anywhere in the world, so you can pick up and move and find a job somewhere else if the local market slows. Also civil engineers can work in design but they also work in construction, maintenance, but they are also employed in banks and consulting firms.
Sheila Jordan
Sheila’s Answer
As others have already provided some great advice here's some additional tidbits for your consideration.
Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations. As current U.S. infrastructure experiences growing obsolescence, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild, repair, and upgrade bridges, roads, levees, dams, airports, buildings, and other structures.
A growing population likely means that new water systems will be required while, at the same time, aging, existing water systems must be maintained to reduce or eliminate leaks. In addition, more waste treatment plants will be needed to help clean the nation’s waterways. Civil engineers will continue to play a key part in all of this work.
The work of civil engineers will be needed for renewable-energy projects. Thus, as these new projects gain approval, civil engineers will be further involved in overseeing the construction of structures such as wind farms and solar arrays.
Although state and local governments continue to face financial challenges and may have difficulty funding all projects, some delayed projects will have to be completed to build and maintain critical infrastructure, as well as to protect the public and the environment. I hope this was helpful. Best of luck to you!
Sheila recommends the following next steps: