What’s The Future of Electrical Engineering Jobs?

Electrical engineering has a bright future, despite the rapid rise of automation and artificial intelligence.

As an electrical engineer myself, let me paint a vivid picture of how this industry will continue to flourish. And I’m placing all biases aside.

The purpose of this article is to go over the misconception of this future dark reality.

The future impact of automation and AI on the electrical engineering profession

Sure, a dystopian future might unfold someday. In the far-off future, most jobs as we know them could vanish. No one can contest this if technology continues its breakneck pace of advancement.

But I’m talking about a world more than 100 years from now. Until that technologically-advanced day arrives, I envision a plethora of jobs being birthed by technology.

Take the 18th-century industrial revolution as a prime example. Revolutionary machines defied the notion that they would render everyone jobless, instead creating a myriad of new jobs.

Now, let’s rewind just 40 years. Who could have ever imagined a teenager becoming a millionaire by playing video games in their parent’s basement? Today, countless teens do just that, raking in massive paychecks.

So, the burning question is, “what kind of new jobs will the future concoct?”

The advancement of tech requires electrical engineers

We humans are responsible for developing and maintaining nearly all the hardware and software we use today. Moreover, cutting-edge technology continually seeps into every industry.

In a capitalist-driven economy, this alone sparks innovation. Now, consider the numerous industries that still operate without advanced tech. Consequently, we’ll continue pushing technology forward with each passing year, as every industry strives to level up.

Now, let’s shift our focus back to electrical engineering.

I’ve crafted a table below that showcases the vast scope of the electrical engineering field. Unquestionably, the field is colossal, and I’ve even omitted many electrical engineering sub-fields.

Electrical Engineering Discipline	Types of Work
Communications	Designing and improving telecommunication systems
Electronics	Designing devices that have electronics
Energy Systems	Renewable energy designs, and making designs more energy efficient
Instrumentation	Designing flow, level, pressure, and temperature measurement devices
Power	Generation, transmission, and distribution of power
Microelectronics	Small electronic designs for devices typically using semiconductor materials
Photonics	New tech with transmission of photons
Signal Processing	Analyzing, modifying, and synthesizing signals such as sound and image
Systems and Controls	Designing systems to behave a certain way

The point is, the impact of electrical engineers is immense, and the intricacies of each field are even more profound. As such, automation won’t be affecting the work of electrical engineers anytime soon – at least not in any of the creative branches of the field.

This conviction is best exemplified through the history of machines and electrical engineering jobs.

A brief history of electrical engineering jobs

Diving into history allows us to better predict the future job market. I find the history of electrical engineering utterly captivating, especially the field’s rapid growth over the years.

Electrical engineering has evolved from a single focus to a multifaceted profession teeming with specialties. Today, the profession employs over 300,000 Americans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Granted, this figure likely includes many non-engineers, but it’s still a significant number!

The early history of electrical engineering jobs

In the late 19th century, electrical engineers began working on the groundbreaking electric telegraph, marking the birth of the professional electrical engineering field.

Back then, electrical engineering had limited specialty jobs, but it had a promising future.

The burgeoning communication industry ignited a new job market, and more and more electrical engineers found gainful employment.

Around the same time, Werner von Siemens introduced the industrial generator, conjuring a brand-new industry. These generators paved the way for power utilities, whose mission was to deliver electricity to homes and businesses.

As a result, the U.S. power grid began to thrive. People hungered for electricity, much like their thirst for clean water.

In short, the power grid expanded from a small corner of America to encompass nearly the entire country, sparking numerous new technologies and jobs in the process.

I see this in California today.

Cities and power grid infrastructure evolve in tandem, fostering increased growth that necessitates more maintenance and management, ultimately resulting in more jobs!

The discovery of electromagnetic waves

Fast-forward to 1888 when Heinrich Hertz unveiled the existence of electromagnetic waves, giving birth to the world of electronics.

Today, electronics permeate every aspect of our lives. The impact is staggering. I’d even venture to say that society, as we know it, would crumble without electronics.

But I digress.

Each product that incorporates electronics typically spawns its own engineering sub-specialty. This, in turn, creates even more electrical engineering jobs as industries modernize.

During the industrial revolution, numerous companies employed their own electrical engineers, eager to continually upgrade their infrastructure with electric products.

Staying in business hinged on this, as competition was fierce, and machines had entered the fray alongside humans.

I liken it to the internet today. If your company lacks an online presence, it’s almost certain to fail.

The introduction of transistors

By now, you’ve grasped how electricity-driven industries evolve—nothing stays static.

One discovery begets another, akin to a domino effect, which brings us to transistors.

In 1947, the world was forever transformed with the invention of the transistor. Personal computing emerged as a thing, catapulting us into a new technological age.

I contend that smartphones epitomize the zenith of this transistor era. I observe smartphones practically fused into the hands of people young and old. It’s amazing how these tiny devices link us to the entire world’s knowledge.

Yet, without electrical engineers, smartphones wouldn’t exist.

At the same time, electrical engineers need to continue working to advance the technology. This is how you get better and faster phones that we love so much.

Consider the Statista data below, illustrating the growth of smartphone users in America. Bear in mind that the user count from 2017 to 2022 is purely an estimation.

Year	Smartphone users in millions
2010	62.6
2011	92.8
2012	122
2013	144.5
2014	171
2015	190.6
2016	208.6
2017*	224.3
2018*	237.6
2019*	248.7
2020*	257.8
2021*	264.9
2022*	270.7

The electrical engineering profession today and moving into the future

Now, let’s fast-forward to the 21st century and examine the buzz in the electrical world and mainstream media.

Today’s news revolves around:

• Renewable energy
• Energy efficiency
• Robotics
• AI
• Microelectronics
• Nanotechnology

And who’s at the helm of these cutting-edge technologies? Electrical engineers!

So, the demand for electrical engineers will only continue to grow over time. Ironically, these same technologies may ultimately lead to our downfall. But, that’s an entirely different conversation.

To emphasize this increasing demand for electrical engineers, let’s consider electric cars. Nowadays, electric cars are practically synonymous with Elon Musk and his company, Tesla.

But before we dive in, let’s address the elephant in the room: the potential job losses caused by the shift to electric cars. It’s true that as traditional internal combustion engine vehicles become outdated, there will be significant job losses. It’s a legitimate concern, and I get that. However, the good news is that a new and rapidly expanding industry is emerging, fueled by the growth of electric cars.

New electrical sub-industries created from electric cars

Let’s dive into some of these sub-industries to see just how much demand there is for electrical engineers:

1) Battery technology

Batteries are the heart of electric cars, and the industry is booming because of it. Engineers are striving to increase driving range, reduce battery weight and cost, while also improving battery life and safety. It’s a huge undertaking, but the upside is unparalleled.

2) Autonomous vehicle technology

Can you imagine a world where young people don’t even know what a steering wheel is? Well, that’s the future of autonomous vehicles. Today, every major tech and car company is investing in this new technology.

3) Charging stations

Just like gas stations, we need electric car charging stations to power our future cars. Electrical engineers are designing the power connection to these charging stations and researching ways to improve charging station technology. I’ve even found myself designing more charging stations every year!

4) Car interiors

As we move into the future, car interiors will advance with new electronics, improving the driving experience for both drivers and passengers. It’s exciting to think about the bells and whistles we can add to our cars to make them even better.

5) Electric utility improvements

To accommodate the rise of electric cars, we need to upgrade our power grids and city infrastructures. This applies to all 50 states in the U.S.

The direction of technology today

Technology has woven itself into everything we know and love today. With every weave, technology creates more specialty jobs. So again, the demand for electrical engineers isn’t decreasing anytime soon. Take a look at the below graph.

Power utility job prospects for electrical engineers

Let’s dive into the power utility sector to highlight just how much demand there is for electrical engineers. Job openings for electrical engineers in the utility sector are popping up all over the country, not just in my home state of California.

With a growing population, our power grid needs to supply power to more people than ever before. Plus, California has set a bold goal of achieving 100 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2045. This increased demand for engineers doesn’t even take into account the fact that much of our current power grid’s electrical equipment needs to be replaced.

To make matters worse, many power engineers are nearing retirement age. So the demand for talented engineers in this sector is skyrocketing.

If you want to stand out as an electrical engineer, it’s important to level up your skills. Check out the resources I’ve written:

• 5 NASA engineering mindset lessons for engineers
• Importance of hands-on skills for engineers
• 5 Ways to master leadership in engineering
• Learning from engineering failures – 4 things to know
• 5 undiscussed qualities of a great engineer
• 15 non-technical things every engineer should know
• 8 powerful engineering mindset examples to know
• How to improve as an engineer? 10 things to know
• The 17 Elon Musk learning strategy lessons
• 10 easy tips on how to work like a machine

Here’s a breakdown of the most common industries employing electrical engineers in 2018:

Industries employing electrical engineers	Number of people employed in 2018
Electronic component & product manufacturing n.e.c.	33,706
Architectural, engineering & related services	28,449
Electric power generation, transmission & distribution	18,338
Electric lighting & electrical equipment manufacturing	11,535
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/190-Vista-Cove-Cir-Sacramento-CA-95835/54916033_zpid/	9,864

As you can see, power grid-related work ranks #3 on the list. I’m sure the demand for electrical engineers in this sector has only increased since then.

A job search isn’t a cakewalk

Let me be real with you: finding an engineering job isn’t a cakewalk. It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to land your dream job, but trust me, it’s worth it.

As the world becomes more globalized and the population increases, job competition will only get tougher. But at the same time, there are also more job opportunities popping up all over the world. As developing nations become more modernized, the demand for electrical engineers is increasing at a global level.

Sometimes, finding your dream engineering job means being open to moving to another state or even another country. It’s not always easy, but it’s a sacrifice that can pay off in the long run. With experience under your belt, you’ll be in a better position to find your perfect job and enjoy greater job security.

And if you have the entrepreneurial gene, you can start your own business.

But no matter what path you choose, it’s important to constantly learn and stay ahead of the competition. Otherwise, you risk becoming just another statistic of jobless engineers.

How I treat my work to stay on top of my craft

When it comes to my work as an electrical engineer, I don’t just clock in and out. I’m committed to producing top-quality work, even if it means burning the midnight oil.

My passion for this field drives me to constantly learn and improve, regardless of the pay. I mean, just look at Elon Musk. He didn’t go to school to master rocket science, but he devoured textbooks and surrounded himself with the brightest minds in aerospace to level himself up.

The lesson here is to never limit yourself to the responsibilities of your job. If your job requires you to do X, that doesn’t mean you can’t do X and Y at the same time.

To stay ahead in today’s fast-changing world, you can’t become too comfortable in any job. You must constantly adapt to changing times and bring out your inner animal.

Take a cue from the animal kingdom, where survival is key. Wild animals migrate for food every year, even with predators lurking nearby. They prioritize their pursuit of food above their fears and step outside their comfort zone every day to survive.

As an engineer, you need to adopt this survival mindset and stay competitive, regardless of your age. Age discrimination is a reality that many engineers face as they grow older, but by constantly learning and improving, you can stay ahead of the game.

Electrical engineering jobs in the future

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the demand for electrical engineers is only going to grow over time. From my own experience and looking at the past and present, I see a bright future ahead.

The truth is, this profession isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s as unlikely as people suddenly stopping eating animal products.

In fact, as an electrical engineer, you may even be responsible for making other jobs obsolete. But don’t worry, you’ll create even more creative jobs in return.

How do you view the future of electrical engineering? What type of engineering jobs do you foresee in the future?