Why Now Is the Best Time to Look for an Engineering Job

Discover why engineering job seekers have more opportunities than ever. Explore hiring trends, in-demand skills and the best fields to enter now.

The Demand for Engineers Is Outpacing Workers

Ongoing political and economic uncertainty has led to slower hiring over the last several months. But while overall hiring in the market may be declining, there’s persistent competition for qualified STEM talent.

Architecture and engineering were among the only professional groups to see an increase in hirings in September 2025. By 2031, the demand for engineering skills is expected to grow by about 13%. But that demand can’t be met with the existing supply of engineers; already about a third of new engineering roles go unfilled.

This may be troubling news for engineering firms, but it gives leverage to highly skilled engineers. The demand for top talent puts you in a strong position to find a role that’s aligned with your skill set, ambitions and salary demands.

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The Secret Behind the Demand for Engineers: Changing Industries and Greater Domestic Production

Understanding what’s causing the uptick in hiring competition puts you in a better position to capitalize on it.

Increased Infrastructure Investments

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocated more than $1 trillion to infrastructure projects around the country, covering areas from transportation to grid resiliency to pollution cleanup. While the rollout has been slow, the promise of such a large investment is enough to build the case for increased hiring.

Another key point of growth: Data centers are being rapidly constructed around the country, requiring a substantial investment in grid modernization to accommodate electricity demands.

Push to Reshore Manufacturing

As more industries look to reshore because of supply chain vulnerabilities and uncertain regulatory policies, there’s a demand for talent in areas like logistics planning, quality engineering, materials handling systems engineering, construction management and more.

Growing Clean Energy Initiatives

While recent policy changes may slow gains in the sector, investment in clean energy and renewables added nearly 100,000 positions in 2024. Renewable energy engineer and environmental engineer are both included among the 15 fastest-growing jobs.

Looking for a New Role? Consider These High-Demand Engineering Jobs

AI Engineering

Sixty-three percent of engineering firms are building or already have an AI strategy in place. Upskilling with AI engineering skills , whether as a complement to your role or as a specialty, can help you stand out in the labor market.

Clean Energy Engineering

As governments and private companies alike consider how best to reduce emissions and promote sustainability, there’s an increased need for engineers with experience in areas like renewable energy, carbon capture and autonomous vehicle technology.

Cybersecurity Engineering

Job postings for engineers with cybersecurity skills are up 38% year-over-year thanks to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats to IT and operational technology systems.

Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering

The rise in domestic manufacturing and production is helping lead the demand for industrial engineers. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the job outlook to grow 11% by 2034, much faster than average.

Project Management

An increase in engineering projects naturally requires skilled leaders to oversee planning and day-to-day operations. You’ll have the opportunity to combine your engineering background with leadership and communication skills to see projects through to completion.

Semiconductor Engineering

The demand for generative AI and data centers continues to explode with no sign of slowing down. The need for skilled semiconductor specialists is expected to grow by one million workers by 2030.

Find Your Next Engineering Role With Actalent

Partnering with Actalent offers flexibility and variety through contract roles with global industry leaders. You can strengthen your expertise or build new skill sets while taking on challenging and engaging engineering projects.

We offer continuous learning and development to support you through onboarding and taking on new roles, as well as individualized training programs to reduce skill gaps and ensure you’ll be successful in your position.

We support a wide range of industries through engineering services, including:

Visit our job board today to find your next engineering role.

Common Questions About
the Engineering Job Market

Will AI replace software engineers?

AI is unlikely to completely replace software engineers. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% growth in the job outlook for software developers over the next decade. However, software engineers should expect to continuously upskill to keep pace with the growth of AI tools in the field.

Will programmers be replaced by AI?

While programmers may not be completely replaced by AI, the job outlook is expected to decline by 6% over the next decade. Programmers should consider upskilling or reskilling in in-demand fields like machine learning or natural language processing.

What engineering sectors are experiencing the most demand?

There’s a demand for engineers in AI engineering, clean energy engineering, cybersecurity engineering, manufacturing and industrial engineering, project management, and semiconductor engineering.

How can experienced engineers leverage today’s engineering hiring trends?

Engineers can leverage their experience and a competitive environment that favors job seekers to demand higher salaries or pursue positions that more closely align with their skill sets or ambitions.

Why is now the best time to enter the engineering job market?

The demand for engineering talent is high and expected to grow over the next decade, but there aren’t enough skilled engineers to fill every available role. This puts engineers in a strong position when they choose to enter the job market, where there’s fierce competition among employers for top talent.