Labour Market Study shows Engineering Market Skills Shortage and Job Growth

OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Engineers Canada released Engineering Labour Market in Canada: Projections to 2020 that shows Canada is facing a short supply of engineers with more than 10 years of specialized experience.

The report projects 95,000 professional engineers will retire by 2020. Canada will face a skills shortage because the workforce cannot be replaced fast enough by incoming Canadian or experienced internationally trained graduates.

The report found that supply and demand imbalances are becoming more serious. While engineering labour market conditions vary from region to region, markets must find ways to strike a balance between retiring workers and training incoming graduates and international engineers interested in working in Canada.

"The study will help engineers, students, employers and governments plan for the future requirements of the Canadian engineering labour market," said Kim Allen, FEC, P.Eng., chief executive officer of Engineers Canada. "We thank Randstad Engineering as the sole sponsor of this important study with Engineers Canada."

"As the country's leading experts in staffing, recruitment and HR services, we are thrilled to partner with Engineers Canada once again and offer localized labour market information on the future needs of the engineering industry," said Jan Hein Bax, President of Randstad Canada. "The shortage of highly skilled professionals is undeniably contributing to the challenges faced by Canada's engineering industry. In order to ensure competitiveness and benefit the future growth and prosperity of tomorrow's engineering workforce, it's important to fully understand the current and future needs of the industry. This valuable research is critical to taking us one step closer to addressing these industry challenges head-on."

Other key findings of the report include areas of job growth due to investment in resources, utilities and infrastructure. This is particularly evident west of Quebec, meaning engineers who are willing to move will find many prospects. However, overall job growth forecasts were weaker than in earlier reports as a result of global economic conditions and government restraint. In terms of immigration, experienced and specialized engineers will have better job prospects in Canada, as employers have recruiting needs for specific projects, but markets will be weaker for new graduates.

The report explores demographic trends and job growth projections, including an overview of disciplines and geographical markets, such as occupations by province, and a new economic background with a detailed forecast of international conditions.

Engineers Canada is the national organization of the 12 provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering in Canada and license the country's more than 250,000 members of the engineering profession. Engineers Canada is the business name of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers. www.engineerscanada.ca

Randstad Engineering is Canada's leader in Engineering Recruitment and Workforce Solutions.
http://randstad.ca/engineering/

SOURCE: Engineers Canada

Marc Bourgeois, Director, Communications & Public Affairs
613-232-2474, ext. 238, [email protected]

Dayana Fraser, Marketing/Communications Specialist
416-962-9578, ext. 2317, [email protected]