Welcome to the wonderful world of engineering

For the third year running, the UK chemical industry has recruited more first degree graduate chemical engineers than chemists. As we report on page 7, the latest Chemical Industries Association survey of its member companies shows the balance tilts the other way once postgraduate recruitment enters the equation, but the evidence remains of increasing demand for chemical engineers. That alone should be good news for those university departments desperate to counter the long-term falling rolls on engineering courses. But even better news can be found in the pages of the Engineering Council's 1997 Survey of Professional Engineers and Technicians.

Based on replies from over 10000 engineers on the Council's register, the survey presents a comprehensive view of the profession across all disciplines and at all levels chartered, incorporated and technician. And what a pleasant view it is. As the Council's director general Mike Heath says in his foreword to the survey, here is all the ammunition any engineer needs to 'de-bunk the outdated views' of engineering being badly paid, insecure, and not offering a route to the top in business.

To take the last point first, it was only last month that one of the profession's best known members, former chairman of British Gas, Sir Denis Rooke, was appointed to the 24-strong Order of Merit by the Queen. Few industrialists, let alone engineers, find themselves so honoured, but the Engineering Council's survey shows a significant number following a similar career path to that of Sir Denis. Just over 10 per cent of participants described their main role as being at director level chairman, chief executive, managing or other director.

There is no indication in the survey as to the job titles of the 23 respondents earning over £250000 a year, but such salaries do tend to be more common in the boardroom than on the shopfloor. That said, however, there can be little grounds for complaint about pay amongst the rest of the profession either. Taking all the disciplines together, a chartered professional engineer earns on average just over £40000. Chartered chemical engineers, as ever, top the lists with an average £45593 an increase of some 9.6 per cent over 1995 when the last survey was carried out.

As for job security, that may be something of a moot point at the moment, given the CIA's indication that an increasing number of its member companies are recruiting graduates on short term or fixed contracts. Nevertheless, the Engineering Council's survey shows that unemployment within the engineering profession has fallen to 1.4 per cent from the already low figure of 2.3 per cent in 1995.