The US faces a critical engineering talent crisis, one that has been growing steadily over the past few years and is now reaching a critical point. With fewer qualified people entering the workforce and universities not graduating enough engineers to meet the high demand for them, companies are left without enough talent to maintain their current level of operations.
This crisis has had devastating effects on future business operations, with companies compelled to invest more heavily in developing their software-defined operating platforms and in recruiting teams that can maintain them. Companies have even had to move significant portions of what would normally be discretionary spending into essential budget categories just to cover their engineering costs.
The lack of engineering talent is having a major impact on American businesses and economic stability as a whole. The increasing reliance on technology means that there is an urgent need for more engineers with specialized skills such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. Without these engineers, businesses cannot keep up with the ever-evolving digital landscape or compete with international companies who may have access to cheaper labor or better infrastructure support.
Unfortunately, this problem isn’t going away anytime soon. Even if universities were able to start producing more graduates with technological expertise—which is unlikely due to budgetary constraints—there would still be a gap between available workers and those needed for future development projects. This could lead to slower operation speeds and an inability for businesses to stay competitive in their respective markets.
The US needs to find ways of bridging this talent gap if it hopes to remain competitive in the global economy moving forward. To do this, Congress should consider loosening immigration restrictions so that more skilled foreign engineers can enter the country—not only will it make up for lost talent at home, but it could also bring new perspectives on how best to tackle technological challenges faced by businesses today. Additionally, investments should be made in educational programs designed specifically for students interested in developing skills related to software-defined operations. Such programs would create a new wave of talent that could help American businesses remain successful in the digital age.
The US engineering talent crisis is real, and it will take strategic action from both public and private sectors to properly address this issue. Without such measures, technology-oriented companies here may find themselves falling behind the competition. It is essential for us to act now.
One immediate solution that might alleviate the staffing needs of your organization is the implementation of a domestic relocation program to bring much needed engineering talent from places with high unemployment and little to no opportunities in these fields. To that end, TalentMovers provides a cost effective solution that takes care of all the hiring and relocation logistics while also help new hires transition to their new destination. That way your company can focus on onboarding needs.