According to the January 2023 Pulse Survey Report, the engineering staffing segment showed strong double-digit growth in December. The segment was up a median 16% year over year and, on an aggregate basis, up 13% year over year. A net 55% of participants predicted an increasing trend in new orders in the next six months, indicating clear optimism in engineering starting the new year.  

And that positivity was reflected in employment figures; according to TechServe Alliance, engineering employment was up 3.49% year over year in February. In the March 2023 Jobs Report, natural resources/mining employment reached 631,000 jobs in February, up 8.2% year over year. This employment sector has had stable year-over-year growth between 6.3% and 9.3% in every month since February of 2022.

Insights on engineering trends across sectors can be found in the GETI Report 2023. The report cites high fossil fuel prices in 2022 and a boom in oil and gas that is expected to continue until 2030 as reasons talent in the other energy sectors are increasingly attracted to oil and gas. Across engineering, talent are highly conscious of ESG initiatives and wish to be given the chance to drive more meaningful socially and environmentally conscious projects. The report also points to upskilling from within as a cost-effective way to improve career progression and increase talent amidst rising supply chain costs/inflation.

To see the impact of this energy boom on February growth, look out for the next March Pulse Report to be published shortly. The next Pulse will be in May; you will see invite emails in the first half of the month, or you can visit our Surveys webpage.