U.S. Engineering in a Global Economy

Since the late 1950s, the engineering job market in the United States has been fraught with fears of a shortage of engineering skill and talent. U.S. Engineering in a Global Economy brings clarity to issues of supply and demand in this important market. Following a general overview of engineering-labor market trends, the volume examines the educational pathways of undergraduate engineers and their entry into the labor market, the impact of engineers working in firms on productivity and innovation, and different dimensions of the changing engineering labor market, from licensing to changes in demand and guest worker programs.

The volume provides insights on engineering education, practice, and careers that can inform educational institutions, funding agencies, and policy makers about the challenges facing the United States in developing its engineering workforce in the global economy.

Richard B. Freeman is the Herbert Ascherman Professor of Economics at Harvard University and is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Hal Salzman is professor of planning and public policy at the Edward J. Bloustein School and senior faculty fellow at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.