<p>"For the second year in a row, engineer is the hardest job to fill in America.</p>
<p>Why are engineers so hard to find? “We have whole generations of people loving liberal arts, not going into science and math,” says Larry Jacobson, executive director of the National Society of Professional Engineers.</p>
<p>Other professions on the staffing firm Manpower’s list of the 10 hardest jobs to fill in the U.S.: information technology staffer, nurse, machinist and teacher. The survey of 2,019 employers was done in the first quarter of 2009.</p>
<p>It might be hard to believe that any employer is struggling to fill positions, since the unemployment rate reached 8.9 percent in April, up from 5 percent a year before. But the Manpower survey found that employers are having a very hard time filling jobs for skilled workers in specific niches. Geography plays a significant role too. While teachers, nurses, engineers and machinists are in short supply in one area, it might be tough to find a job in those professions elsewhere…"
[Need</a> work? These jobs have a lot of openings - Careers- msnbc.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31390083/ns/business-careers/]Need”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31390083/ns/business-careers/)</p>
<p>Teachers – only math/sceience, special ed and ESL where I live, and then only very limited. You better be able to coach a sport and have another in.</p>
<p>Why are engineers so hard to find? “We have whole generations of people loving liberal arts, not going into science and math,” says Larry Jacobson, executive director of the National Society of Professional Engineers.</p>
<p>It is hard to love science and math when both of them are taught so poorly in american schools even in comparison to some developing third world countries. Out of people who start in engineering, many realize that obstacles are too much to overcome. There are persistant others, some take additional tutoring sessions. Even in easier pre-med classes, (relatively easier comparing to engineering), many exceptionally good students in Honors programs switch to different majors. K-12 system is very inadequate.</p>
I would say this is incorrect. The US has relatively good scientific/mathematical schooling in comparison to all of South America/Africa/South Asia.</p>
<p>The certified positions available in the US vary by location. In our area there are always too many teachers who are certified for Elementary Ed. There aren’t enough jobs for them here and the either have to wait, or they have to relocate. </p>
<p>It probably depends on the location of the certifying colleges. We have a large state university with an EL ED major in our area, but the closest state school for Technology Ed is 3 hours away. So, there are usually Tech Ed jobs available in our area (less so right now with the budget woes, though).</p>
<p>In my 30 years in nursing there has always been an abundance of jobs. Unfortunately most of the nurses graduating today are looking at advanced degrees right away so they don’t have to work in hospitals. If my dad’s last hospitalization is any indication the quality of nurses is going down :(.</p>
<p>Our local school system is laying off hundreds of employees, many of them teachers due to state budget cuts. Meanwhile, our schools are bursting at the seams with students.</p>
<p>S just graded as an engineer from a school well recognized for its engineering program. He got an excellent job but he said that only the grads that had a co-op job last summer had job offers. He also said the he knows of two new grad nursing majors that say they can’t find jobs. I was a little suspect about the nurses, but then someone reminded me about a nearby hospital (NJ) that recently locked-out their nurses in a contract dispute. They did so because they were able to hire 200 licensed replacements in fast order on a temp basis. </p>
<p>" would say this is incorrect. The US has relatively good scientific/mathematical schooling in comparison to all of South America/Africa/South Asia. "</p>
<p>Big NOPE. Sorry, did not mean to offend. American k-12 is not up in comparison to even some African contries, I have talked to some African immigrants, who were considering sending kids back for education. However, it is even much more evident in comparison to Europe, Japan, China and others. D’s private HS had exchange students every year from these countries, and everybody knew that despite of their inferior English they had to be put in advanced classes for math and science.</p>
<p>Just heard a story on public radio last night about thousands of engineers being laid off by major companies, many seeing their jobs outsourced to China and India. In some cases they’re being offered their old jobs back—at half their former pay—if they’re willing to relocate to Shanghai or Bangalore. Some companies may be hiring engineers, but industry professionals say the unemployment rate for engineers, now around 4%, is actually higher than for professional workers generally, currently around 3.7%.</p>
<p>Of course, it varies by engineering specialty. </p>
<p>First quarter 2009 unemployment rates:</p>
<p>Electrical & electronics engineers 4.1%
Mechanical engineers 4.2%
Aerospace engineers 1.4%
Software engineers 4.2%
Computer scientists & systems analysts 5.7%
Computer & information systems managers 4%
Engineering managers 1.8%</p>
<p>What kind of careers are offered with a bachelors degree in Health Science? Can I become a Physicians Assistant with that degree or would I have to continue on with my education.</p>
<p>My DH is a perfect example of 2 of the points made here. When he was laid off at a major bank ( that accepted bail out money) he was asked if he would like to go to Banglagore. Umm, no.</p>
<p>Then he found a new job in Tampa, FL. We are from a suburb of Chicago. Luckily, my kids are old enough where we could make this move without upsetting their high school years.</p>
<p>Tell that to the tens of thousands unemployed tech workers and teachers and underemplyed nurses. (Don’t know about engineers. But I do know of a couple who were laid off only to be replaced by cheaper counterparts from India.)</p>