The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the employment market in Spain upside down. Some employees have been affected by either redundancy or furloughing, whilst others have found themselves overwhelmed and desperate for assistance. The former is exemplified by the hotel industry; and, on the other hand, the latter is clearly true of the healthcare sector, to give just two examples. Yet, in the midst of this polarised situation, there is a profession that has once again stood out as a safe haven in these uncertain times thanks to its promising opportunities: engineering.
The employment rate of graduates in this field in Spain is the highest of all branches of university degrees. According to the latest Employment Survey for University Graduates (ESUG) from the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), 92.4% of male and female engineers are in employment five years after having finished their studies. This percentage sets graduates in the field ahead of the employment levels of graduates of Health Sciences (91.5%), Sciences (83.9%), Social and Legal Sciences (83.6%) and Arts and Humanities (76.3%).
Within the field of engineering, however, there are specializations with particularly promising prospects, especially for this year and the decade ahead. Do you want to find out which engineering profiles will offer the best career opportunities in 2021? BETWEEN will tell you! Read, take note, and get ready to give your career a boost!
Employment outlook for engineering professionals
The ESUG specifies that, within the field of engineering, it is specialists in Electrical Engineering that boast the highest employment rate: 97.5%. Engineering firms in Industrial Organisation and Nanotechnology and in Aeronautics also present employment levels higher than the average, above 95%.
It should also be noted that the unemployment rate in this profession is just 4.4%, and that 96.6% of employees work full time. The salary expectations of both male and female engineers are also the most substantial for university graduates. The NIS confirms that, after five years of emplyoment, 17.8% earn more than €2,500 per month, while another 20.7% earn between €2,000 and €2,499.
In the near future, forecasts indicate the market continuing to demand engineers from the most established branches of engineering (such as Industrial and Mechanical), in combination with those who have studied other newer disciplines such as Robotics and Mechatronics. In any case, the profession will have to take on new challenges, as a result of digital transformation and the development of paradigms such as Industry 4.0.
Where are engineering jobs concentrated in Spain?
The LinkedIn 2020 Emerging Jobs Report includes Engineers among the 15 professional profiles that have grown the most in terms of hiring in the last five years. Within Spain, LinkedIn points out that this type of job is mainly concentrated in the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, due to their central location and international character respectively. However, cities such as Seville, Valencia and Bilbao have also been emerging as cities with smaller hubs of engineering opportunities, offering dynamism, opportunities and quality of life in equal measure.
Robotics engineer, one of the profiles with the most opportunities in 2021
Robotics engineers are the focus of the LinkedIn study. This profession has experienced a 65% compound annual growth rate in the last five years. Sectors such as aviation, the automotive industry, or the aerospace industry are placing their trust in these professionals to optimize their protocols and increase their productivity.
Robotics Engineering focuses on designing, programming, modifying, managing and programming devices that make our lives easier: robots that take on heavy or repetitive tasks, carry out actions when we are not present, free us from certain activities or accelerate production chains.
With the development of the Internet of Things, Robotics Engineering professionals will find very stimulating job opportunities in 2021 in areas such as:
- Home automation, creating systems that automate energy management in smart homes and appliances.
- Mass manufacturing, studying how to multiply the efficiency of each machine within the production chain.
- The development of autonomous vehicles, which will arrive on our roads between 2023 and 2025, according to the forecasts from the main automotive companies.
Careers in the field of Industrial Engineering
A degree in Industrial Engineering prepares tremendously versatile professionals, capable not only of detailed work and micromanagement, but also able to think in global terms and to plan the future of organisations. They will continue to reap successes in the employment market in 2021.
Among the list of professional opportunities that industrial engineers can consider are responsibilities such as:
- Management, carrying out directorial tasks to lead teams.
- Supervision of workflows and processes.
- Analysis and quality control, to detect weak points and propose actions to correct and optimize.
- Leadership in areas such as logistics, distribution, operations, etc.
- Consulting and teaching. Curiosity is a quality usually held by Industrial Engineering specialists. This willingness to commit to continuous learning makes them highly valued and valued for advising and imparting training
Operational Excellence, a job niche on the rise within Industrial Engineering
In recent years, a new position has been created that allows industrial engineers to give their best: Operational Excellence Engineer.
Operational Excellence seeks to optimise all levels of the company as much as possible, so that its staff work in full alignment in order to achieve results and customer satisfaction. Through Operational Excellence, a company will be increasingly competitive, but it will also be able to eliminate inefficiencies and ensure the well-being of its workforce.
Operational Excellence engineers focus on analysing all processes, proposing good practices and implementing agile methodologies such as Lean, Agile and Scrum.
Business Intelligence: a great opportunity?
The market for Business Intelligence (BI) will grow at an annual rate of 7.6% between 2020 and 2025, according to a study by MarketsandMarkets. This discipline is based on the collection, storage and exploitation of the data that reaches organisations for a descriptive and predictive purpose: to understand what happens and what can happen, and to make more accurate decisions accordingly.
Industrial Engineering has a lot to say in this field. Its professionals will find opportunities both by developing BI tools and by taking responsibility for the use of data within companies, in collaboration with other Big Data specialists such as Data Analysts and Data Scientists.
What are the job opportunities in Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical Engineering is experiencing a golden age, and will continue to do so, thanks to advances such as Industry 4.0 and 3D printing. Mechanical engineers are involved in solving the day-to-day challenges that arise in factories and assembly lines, but they are also engaged in research and quality control.
Traditionally, Mechanical Engineering has been associated with the automotive sector. However, its prospects are much wider. The commitment to environmental protection from all levels of society means that the presence of graduates in Mechanical Engineering is highly valued in:
- The energy sector, especially in the exploitation of renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind.
- Construction, for the selection of materials and techniques that provide lasting results and energy comfort at a low cost and with the least environmental impact.
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning), that is, air conditioning of spaces, proposing and designing hot / cold and ventilation solutions.
Mechatronics Engineering: a winning combination with the best of Mechanics and Electronics
Mechatronics Engineering arises from the synergy between Mechanics and Electronics. It is a subject with very practical opportunities, focused on the development, assembly and maintenance of automated products and systems. The increasing robotisation of factories is made possible thanks to the perseverance of these professionals. For this reason, training in Mechatronics is an excellent option as a career path for engineering in 2021 and in the coming years.
Materials Engineer, a rising profile due to concern for the environment
Metals, glass, polymers, bio-based substances… Industry constantly explores the use of new materials to manufacture consumer goods. The goal is to achieve cheaper, lighter, more environmentally friendly, recyclable and healthier options. Materials Engineers have precisely the right knowledge to advance on this path.
The opportunities for Materials Engineering in 2021 are focused on research and production control. Specialists in this field will be responsible for evaluating raw materials, doing tests and giving instructions about the ideal mix of components.
Are you an engineer who is looking for a motivating professional career in 2021? Why don't you take a look at the engineering job offers that we currently have at BETWEEN? Move forward in your career and take on new challenges, we need talented people like you!
