Solving the Engineering Talent Gap

The Challenge of the Engineering Talent Gap

There are currently more open positions in engineering than there are qualified candidates to fill them. About one-third of engineering roles remain unfilled due to this skills gap, according to global consulting firm BCG. In addition, more than one in 10 advertised jobs in the U.S. come from the engineering sector.

Hiring—and retaining—qualified employees has become a massive challenge for employers. Companies need to not only know how to draw attention but also maintain hold of that attention to get prospective employees to commit.

Candidates are looking for a company culture that supports work-life balance. This is particularly true for women. In 2021, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 26.8% of women with engineering degrees who graduated within the previous 11 to 15 years worked in engineering roles, compared to 41% of male engineers. Companies that have more flexible work-life balance to allow for maternity leave and childcare are more likely to appeal to women.

Bridging the Gap with Early Career Programs

At ASME, we have asked the question: how can we help fill this talent gap in our field?

Early career engineers are the cornerstone of our future workforce, and ASME strives to provide mechanical engineering graduates with opportunities and tools to help support their transition from school to work. ASME offers numerous programs and events to help early career engineers develop transferrable leadership skills for career advancement.

ASME’s Early Career Leadership Internship to Serve Engineering (ECLIPSE) program, for example, is an exclusive professional development opportunity for early career members. The program provides ECLIPSE interns with valuable mentorship and placement within an ASME unit to work on a year-long project.

Other early-career specific programs include our E-Fest events. ASME Engineering Festivals join students and young engineers from around world to ignite innovation, build resumes, meet with potential employers, participate in stimulating digital competitions, and jumpstart careers.

Community College Pathways

ASME also has a Community College Engineering Pathways (CCEP) program, which aims to broaden access to technical careers to help build a larger and more qualified skilled technical workforce.

CCEP provides resources and activities such as workshops, trainings, scholarships, skills competitions, and more that support students’ educational journey so they persist to graduation and either transfer to a four-year institution or enter the engineering workforce. So far, ASME has partnered with 50 community colleges and engaged more than a thousand students as part of this program.

ASME is dedicated not only to helping young engineers enter the workforce but also to supporting them in advancing their careers and staying engaged in the engineering field over long term.

With regards,