What is the job market like for transportation engineering?

[CoolioC]

<p>Are there a lot of jobs in transportation engineering? Which part of the country? Are they mostly in the private sector or public sector? Is the field growing or shrinking? </p>

<p>What is it like to work at a transportation engineering firm? Explain please.</p>

[ken285]

<p>[Rising</a> demand for civil engineers not translating into jobs Columbia Business Times; The leading source of local business coverage in Columbia, MO](<a href=“http://www.columbiabusinesstimes.com/12431/2011/08/05/rising-demand-for-civil-engineers-not-translating-into-jobs/]Rising”>http://www.columbiabusinesstimes.com/12431/2011/08/05/rising-demand-for-civil-engineers-not-translating-into-jobs/)</p>

<p>

On the other hand, the poor condition of America’s infrastructure may not be translating into more jobs for civil engineers. “Certainly we have a lot of infrastructure needs, and we will over the long term, and in the coming decades there’s going to be a strong demand for civil engineering,” said Mark Virkler, chairman of the MU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. However, tight government budgets mean that “the demand for employment is not as high as the need.”

</p>

<p>

“If we let infrastructure deteriorate further, the costs of either repairing them or replacing them are just going to get higher; there’s no doubt about that,” Gopalaratnam said. “Infrastructure is the kind of investment that will bring immediate returns, both in regard to producing jobs and increasing our economic output.”

</p>

<p>

And economic necessity is also a major concern. Investment in infrastructure is essential for the United States to remain competitive in the global economy, Gopalaratnam said. He said the United States has invested about 2 percent or less of gross domestic product during the past five years in its infrastructure, while Europe invested 5 percent, and China and India invested between 6 and 9 percent.

</p>

[CivilEngr]

<p>Ken is there an area of civil that you think has better job prospects or do all areas have around the same prospects? What about water resources, hydraulic, and flood control? Everyone always needs water.</p>

[ken285]

<p>Flood control would be in the same boat as the rest of infrastructure. US Army Corps of Engineers is facing budget cuts too. </p>

<p>[April</a> 15, 2011 - Fiscal Year 2012 Budget - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation](<a href=“http://www.asce.org/Government-Relations/Testimony-and-Correspondence/2011/April-15,-2011---ASCE-Statement---Fiscal-Year-2012-budget-for-U-S--Army-Corps-of-Engineers-and-Bureau-of-Reclamation/]April”>http://www.asce.org/Government-Relations/Testimony-and-Correspondence/2011/April-15,-2011---ASCE-Statement---Fiscal-Year-2012-budget-for-U-S--Army-Corps-of-Engineers-and-Bureau-of-Reclamation/)</p>

[CoolioC]

<p>So basically you’re saying don’t do any area within civil engineering because of budget cuts?</p>

[ken285]

<p>No, I’m not saying that either because I don’t know what things will be like in two to four years. The need for infrastructure will always be there but the funding is not.</p>

[rheidzan]

<p>

So basically you’re saying don’t do any area within civil engineering because of budget cuts?

enter at your own risk</p>

[ken285]

<p>“Risk” is a good word to use here. There are a lot of unknowns that affect this field, and it will be up to yourself to evaluate the risks and rewards.</p>

<p>How confident are you that the economy will recover by the time you enter the job market (and thus lead to the rebound of commercial construction? How much faith do you have that our government will realize putting off spending on infrastructure rehabilitation will only mean greater costs in the long run? What are your alternatives and will those alternatives required additional schooling, costs and time?</p>