Just 50 EE's a year? 4

[BitTwiddler]

Who wants to be an engineer? Just 50 a year, say universities

By Tim Webb
Published: 05 March 2006
The Independent Online

Fears are growing that the energy sector could face a recruitment crisis as the number of engineering graduates dwindles.

Only around 50 electrical engineers are graduating each year from UK universities, forcing some companies to recruit engineers from countries as far afield as Serbia and Poland to make up the shortfall.

A report published by the Sector Skills Council found that there was a particular shortage in lineworkers who build, repair and maintain electricity pylons and towers.

The council, which targets skills gaps, estimates transmission companies need an extra 600 lineworkers for work due to start next month. There are around 340 currently in work, but by 2012 an additional 1,875 lineworkers will be needed. The report said that based on trainee recruitment levels, only around 200 trainees are set to qualify each year.

Steve Collier, strategy development manager from the Sector Skills Council, said that lineworkers can now earn on average £50,000 a year. The skills shortage was exacerbated as lineworkers and other types of electrical engineers are poached to work overseas.

Michael Sterling, vice-chancellor of Birmingham University and former president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, said: "There is the worry that if you don't have UK engineers, you have to use consultants from overseas as well, undermining the whole idea of the UK operating on a 'knowledge economy'."

The Home Office is reviewing how it selects immigrants looking for work in the UK, and which professions are classified as essential. It is expected to announce this week that it plans to introduce a points system.

Strathclyde, Manchester, Southampton and Queens University in Belfast have set up the "Power Academy" providing scholarships for electrical engineering students, which are funded by the industry.

 

[GregLocock]

Oh go on. Do you really need an engineer to "build, repair and maintain electricity pylons and towers."?

Out here in the real world that's usually done by a
skilled tradesman.

Mind you, the pay is better for lineworkers than engineers...



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[davefitz]

I think it would be more entertaining if it dwindled down to 1 EE per year. The graduation could be televised, and the program titled "who wants to be a millionaire?"

 

[PSE]

I would agree with Greg, this looks to be more of a lamentation about skilled trades shortages. I certainly don't begrudge them the pay, the conditions and hazards under which they sometimes work seems worth it.

Regards,

 

[2dye4]

what exactly is a "RECURITMENT CRISIS"

Is is not equivalent to saying.

For the pay we don't have enough takers of the job.

What action is desired from an individual making such
a plea??

One can't help but think some solution other than the
free market for employees is in their mind.

Why not reply to them "Make the job more attractive"??

When your getting laid off you will get a lecture about
the Free market and creative desruction. But when
there is no line outside the company gate waiting for
work there is problem needed to be solved by gov.

 

[Ashereng]

I apologize, as I am starting to sound like a broken record.

If you want more "put employee description here", make it attrative. Where most companies fall short is usually at the top - with $$$.

In our market, there is such a shortage that a local restaurant/bar is offering:
- $500 signing bonus
- 1 week paid vacation to Mexico (forgot the resort but it seemed nice)
All you have to do is stay with them for 6 months to collect.

How many engineering firms can even match that type of effort?

 

[moltenmetal]

In the 1950s, the average engineer in Canada made about 30% more than the average lawyer, considerably more than the average chartered accountant, and roughly the same amount as the average doctor. Return engineering salaries to that proportional level and there will be no shortage of engineers of any kind! The roughly 1/2 of all Canadian engineers who currently do not practice engineering because there are better things to do for money would find engineering a little more enticing as a career option if salaries doubled!

By the way, this kind of "shortage" hype has occurred continuously throughout my career. In that time I've never been fortunate enough to witness an ACTUAL shortage of engineers. The hype is fueled by businesses who want to find experienced, fully-trained engineers who will take short-term contracts for no premium in pay.

The big hype excuse these days is the pending retirement of the "baby boom" generation in North America. But those people won't even begin to retire in significant numbers for a decade or so, and the tail end of that generation won't retire for 25 years. Since engineers do tend to spoil on storage, it's not a problem you can solve by graduation or immigration NOW.

 

[davefitz]

Ashereng:
$500 and a trip to Mexico is not going to cut it- compared to full medical and dental benefits for the whole family, it would be peanuts. Throw in stock options, and you have a deal.

 

[Ussuri]

My company operates an employee referral scheme whereby referees get between a one and four thousand pound bonus for a successful referral. I suggested to an ex colleague of mine that he might like to join the company. He was interviewed, accepted and I filled in the relevant paperwork in line with the company policy.

However, the company refused to honour the policy because 'the individual needs training'. I pointed out that it is supposed to be the mark of a good company to provide training for staff, and based on that argument no one can ever get a referral bonus.

We have a massive skills shortage in my company at the moment, where they claim they cannot get engineers. In reality it is cheap engineers it can't get.

 

[ziggi]

From what I hear engineers are making a killing out in Fort McMurray, but then again so is everyone. An average senior engineer is making about $150k if not more. Apparently according to news reports alot of kids are dropping out of schools b/c they can make $14/hour working at McDonalds over there, which is true I recently saw an ad in the paper for McDs out in Fort McMurray, $14/hour and benefits.

 

[CanuckMiner]

That's good ziggi. At $14/hr, those kids would only have to work about 100 hours/week to make the rent in Fort McMurray. ;-)

Cheers,
CanuckMiner

 

[ziggi]

I never said it was a GOOD idea . Those kids are better off getting their high school diploma and then working the pipelines they'd make way way more cash.....Then again when you live with your parents I guess rent is usually free.

 

[Ashereng]

davefitz,

That was for restaurant/bar help, for 6 months.

Starbucks already offer full benefits and medical.

How many engineering firms can even match that type of effort?

What I meant was, since starbucks and my local pub already offer full benefits and medical, shouldn't engineering firms be offering the same type or equivalent? Most engineering firms around me right now don't even offer full benefits or medical to their contracts, never mind the signing bonus or trip.

 

[Ashereng]

ziggi,

You are welcomed to go to the Fort. It is not for everyone.

If you have a family, and most senior engineers may, it would definitely be tough. There is a reason they are offering $150K for an average senior engineer - no one likes to give money out for no reason. Even then, many won't go because they feel it is not enough.

 

[Ussuri]

For us non North American posters could someone please explain what is going on at Fort McMurray?

 

[ziggi]

no thanks Ashereng,
I've been there before and I'm not too keen on going back. I do like Calgary though. If I was single and didn't own property here in Toronto, I would go to the Fort in a flash for about 180% of my current salary. Life is quite good there for a single guy, and there's plenty of hot gold digging woman about town .

Ussuri,
Fort McMurray is where the majority of Canada's oil comes from.

 

[Ashereng]

Fort McMurray is where the Canadian tar sands are. Other areas of oil & gas producing include the maritime coastal waters (eg Sable Island - did I spell that right?), central Alberta, eastern BC, Saskatchewan/Manitoba boarder. I am sure there are others.

The reason that the Fort is booming is that the major players, collectively, have already announced over $20 Billion (Canadian presumably) in capital projects over the next 25 years.

In a nutshell, lots of work and not enough skilled workers.

 

[ziggi]

It's also not a bad town if you like living in the Canadian tundra (ie. almost Arctic), and if you enjoy fishing, hunting etc, oh and you must really really enjoy a month of summer and 11 months of winter ...Come to think of it, the company of roughnecks was always a hoot though, although their hi-jinks aren't as funny in -50 deg Celcius weather.

 

[davefitz]

Asheren:

$20 billion . You could buy a lot of influence for that kind of money. It might almost cover the recent election of a PM.

I understand that many of the projects proposed 2 yrs ago have had to scale back the schedules due to manpower issues and rapid escalation in cost of steel and machinery. Also, some rumors if all projects are started up, half of all water flowing in that part of Alberta would be consumed by these projects.

Sounds like a good place to open up a car dealership.

 

[Ashereng]

I am not sure about the reference to the recent election of a PM. Did I miss something?

I don't know about the water. Alberta is on the wrong side of the Rockies for water. I suppose we can always divert - that would be a good $3Billion project too! Woo Hoo!

We don't drive cars, so that wouldn't work. We are in 4x4 truck country.