Mechanical engineers have invaluable roles in a myriad of industries, which include automotive, aerospace, construction, pharmaceuticals, research and development, robotics, electronics, power, materials and metals, and defense. Even disparate fields such as business and finance, real estate, and public administration have a demand for mechanical engineers.
A government study has projected that the country will need over 1.8 million engineers across various sectors by 2025. These sectors include agriculture and forestry, manufacturing, construction, transport, mining, and utilities like electricity, gas and water, and other services.
The joint study, conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), likewise added that engineers have the highest future demand among all science & technology-related professions in the country.
Curiously, the International Labor Organization (ILO) also tagged in a separate study mechanical engineers among “rising star” occupations.
This ILO study entitled “The Future of Work in the Philippines: Assessing the impact of technological changes on occupations and sectors” explained that the “rising star” classification means that the profession is resilient and easily adaptable to transformative digitalization, something vital in emerging jobs.
Degree holders can establish a career as aerospace engineers tasked with creating, building, and maintaining spacecraft, planes, and satellites. They test and perfect prototypes and develop devices needed in the aerospace industry.
With their good mathematical and design skills, mechanical engineers may also lend their expertise in designing products used in manufacturing or process engineering.
They could also try to become control and instrumentation engineers tasked to design, develop, install, and maintain equipment while ensuring the efficiency of machinery and equipment at processing centers.
Mechanical engineers are also highly qualified to become project managers, product designers, or production engineers who spearhead innovative projects such as sustainable energy solutions or programs that involve robotics and mechatronics.
Other job roles that they could branch out to include being an automotive engineer, biomedical engineer, construction engineer, manufacturing engineer, management consultant, petroleum engineer, patent lawyer, investment banker, process engineer, quality engineer, thermal engineer, energy engineer, and technology specialist.
Aside from having job security, one of the main draws of being a mechanical engineer is the financial rewards.
Statistics from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) indicate that the basic monthly wage of a mechanical engineer in the Philippines can average ₱48,600. At the same time, those employed in the USA can earn a median annual salary of $95,300.
The opportunities for mechanical engineers are practically limitless. In pursuing this rewarding career, aspirants need to possess a set of knowledge and skills that is desired by the global industry, which can only be ensured by the right education.
Mapúa University is recognized internationally for its leading-edge excellence in engineering and sciences, among Asia’s Top 550 universities and a four-star academic institution according to QS. Its Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program, which is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the US-based ABET, assures its students that they will have acquired global job-ready skills after they graduate.
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