Engineers and surveyors in demand in Alaska: getting that engineering degree makes good cents in Alaska.

AuthorBonham, Nicole A.

With engineering schools clamoring to fit the demand, it's a good time to be an engineer or surveyor in Alaska. Though elsewhere, the picture is not so rosy.

Down south, as the nation ramps up slowly to economic recovery, industry watchers wait patiently for the increasing market stability to translate into jobs. In the unemployment lines, downsized technical and knowledge workers--who long ago lost their patience--are bombarded with daily headlines announcing yet another U.S. company will send its jobs overseas. The Wall Street Journal reports IBM will move some 4,700 programming jobs from domestic sites to India, China and other foreign countries. That technology company has already hired some 500 engineers in India. Meanwhile, USA Today reports that the traditional wellspring of economic growth--the small business--is "stuck in neutral."

So if engineers remain skittish and nervous about their job prospects elsewhere in the nation, why is Alaska any different? What is happening here to justify the flood of opportunities for a qualified engineer? And how are educators answering the call of an increased demand? Finally, is that "neutral" ground in the Lower 48 having any measurable effect on the Alaska engineering or surveying work force?

FROM THE TRENCHES

Engineers and hiring managers from around the state confirm it's an employee's market in related Alaska fields--provided you come to the table with the correct qualifications.

"Yes, I do believe that there is a high demand for both engineers and surveyors in Alaska," confirms Michael H. Schoder, survey manager for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Central region. "Anyone who has been in a position that requires hiring of engineers or surveyors knows it is difficult to find qualified and experienced personnel.

"There are always ads in newspapers and other recruitments for engineers and surveyors," Schoder says. "Recently, I have seen open 'head-hunting' of private firms trying to entice employees to leave present positions. These are indications of the high demand."

Grover L. Johnson, an engineer for Anchorage-based Shannon & Wilson Inc., works at an office that includes a total of 13 engineers and eight geologists and scientists. The company is at work on feasibility and siting studies for a Knik Arm crossing from Anchorage to McKenzie Point, realignment of tracks for the Alaska Railroad Corp., the expansion of the Ship Creek rail yard, as well as several projects in Southeast, and several Alaska environmental cleanup projects. He also sees indicators that engineers and affiliated professionals are in short supply.

"Moderate to high," he says of the interest in engineers. "This is because there are not a lot of--or any--good engineers on the streets looking for work at the present time to my knowledge. Also, I don't hear that engineers are being laid off!"

THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THE ENGINEERING/SURVEY SECTORS

Land surveying is a specialized field that supports four main sectors: engineering design of civil works and commercial development, the building and construction industry, geographic information system development, and land boundaries and property development...

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