Environmental engineering graduates should have favorable
job opportunities. Employment of environmental engineers is expected to
increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. Much
of the expected growth will be due to the emergence of this occupation as a
widely recognized engineering specialty rather than as an area that other
engineering specialties, such as civil engineers, specialize in. More
environmental engineers will be needed to comply with environmental
regulations and to develop methods of cleaning up existing hazards. A shift
in emphasis toward preventing problems rather than controlling those that
already exist, as well as increasing public health concerns, also will spur
demand for environmental engineers. However, political factors determine the
job outlook for environmental engineers more than that for other engineers.
Looser environmental regulations would reduce job opportunities; stricter
regulations would enhance opportunities.
Even though employment of environmental engineers
should be less affected by economic conditions than that of most other types
of engineers, a significant economic downturn could reduce the emphasis on
environmental protection, reducing employment opportunities. Environmental
engineers need to keep abreast of a range of environmental issues to ensure
their steady employment because their area of focus may change
frequently—for example, from hazardous waste cleanup to the prevention of
water pollution.
Source: Bureau of Labor
Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2004-05 Edition
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