Engineers on the homefront: shortage of quality workers still exists, but schools are working to turn situation around in time for huge potential projects.

• Author: Freeman, Louise
• Position: ENGINEERING: SPECIAL SECTION

The University of Alaska, high schools in Anchorage and Fairbanks, as well as nonprofit corporations and private industry are making great strides in addressing Alaska's chronic shortage of engineers.

Despite their efforts, the shortage is expected to grow at least through 2016, with an average of 50 new engineer jobs being added each year, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's occupational projections. In addition, each year another 70 openings will become available through turnover and retirement as more and more baby boomers reach retirement age.

'OVERWHELMED'

"What's coming for us is the potential for these large projects, like the gas pipeline. What we're finding is that if these hit, we're going to be overwhelmed," said Gerry Brown, president of the Anchorage Chapter of the Alaska Society of Professional Engineers (ASPE).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also anticipating new large-scale projects that will require more engineers, including "projects to address the risks villages are experiencing on the coastline, and other flood, erosion or thawing permafrost areas," said Trish Opheen, chief, Engineering Division Alaska District. "I anticipate emergency evacuation roads and emergency shelters to be the first phase. We know there are upwards of 10 villages that are in need of 'immediate' actions."

'REVOLVING DOOR'

Recruitment of new engineers to tackle such projects is always a problem in Alaska, with high turnover rates despite attractive starting salaries of $50,000 to $80,000. "People stay only two, three, five years. It's a revolving door. They learn about how to do engineering in Alaska and then leave," said Robert Lang, dean of the UAA School of Engineering. Many of the engineers working in the state are nonresidents. Half the state's 5,000 licensed engineers retain out-of-state residence addresses, according to the Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing's Architecture, Engineering, and Land Surveying Board.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found that filling job openings with engineers from outside Alaska is an expensive solution to the ongoing shortage. Costs for relocating new employees is high, said Opheen, with additional expenses for extra training in dealing with cold region design and the logistical challenges presented by the remoteness. The Corps recruits engineers through the UAA and UAF job fairs, national level job fairs through various professional...