Engineering vs. Math -- What to major in?

Exengineer
Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:58:54 +0000

The problem is not specifically confined to metallurgical engineers around Toronto, but all engineers. Many in that age group are now unemployed or underemployed and I believe it to be a North American problem, not just in this market. People should understand that universities are in the business of making money, not guaranteeing life long employment in the field of choice. Age discrimination is definitely out there, that can’t be denied, but there is currently no way around it. Engineering is no longer the stupefying superior degree it was portrayed as in the 1970s. There is a lot of competition and many graduates will never have a satisfactory work experience due to lack of opportunities and the flood of immigrants from India and China that saturate the market. Real wages have been stagnating for decades and it is now possible for someone with a two year part time nursing diploma to make more money than an engineer. I know because my wife is doing that now. Her community college diploma has surpassed my great vaunted university engineering degree. Don’t worship engineering, it’s not justified.