Largely unnoticed by the public, consulting engineers work behind-the-scenes to ensure almost everything we enjoy in society works. The lights we turn on, the water that comes from our taps, the roads we drive on and bridges we cross, the transit systems that move millions of people, and the parks we enjoy.
All of this (and much more) wouldn’t be possible without the work of these professionals. With the Ontario government alone committing to invest $185 billion in infrastructure over the next ten years, consulting engineering is an in-demand career that deserves attention.
Consulting engineers provide services and expertise to both public and private sector organizations and find innovative solutions to technical problems and provide strategic advice across diverse industries. “The work of consulting engineers is deeply embedded in the fabric of our society,” says Andrew Hurd, executive director for the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC-Ontario), whose 140 member firms employ Ontarians. “Their contributions enable economic and social growth that benefits our communities.”
A career with purpose
With increased infrastructure spending and climate change challenges, consulting engineers will be at the forefront of building sustainable and resilient communities. But this growth in activity, coupled with the retirement of the baby boomer generation, means a shortage of consulting engineers unless action is taken to encourage more people to enter the field.
Consulting engineers are not a nice-to-have, they are a must-have.
“We want government to encourage young people, especially those in underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, to consider science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) early in their education journey. They need to see consulting engineering for what it is—a viable and rewarding career choice,” Hurd says. “Consulting engineers are not a nice-to-have, they are a must-have.”
Hurd adds that public infrastructure investment should consider social procurement as part of the bid process, which could lead to more mentoring opportunities for engineers, more diverse workplaces, and increased community engagement.
A diverse workforce is good for business
Despite promising advances, women in engineering remain significantly underrepresented, accounting for only 14% of licensed professional engineers in Ontario. ACEC-Ontario’s members are committed to ensuring diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplaces, but more work is needed to change the perception of consulting engineering. Ensuring the STEM workforce reflects the diversity of our population strengthens our ability to provide innovative solutions to pressing public infrastructure challenges.
If somebody is ethically driven and wants to help build a better world, this is a great career choice. Consulting engineering provides a high-level of job satisfaction, because of the diversity of opportunities, not only in Canada, but globally.
Andrew Hurd, Executive Director,
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario
Hurd is noticing a shift in the career choice of many young people, who aren’t only driven by money. Instead, they want careers that make a difference, offer life experiences, or use cutting-edge technology—everything one can get from the field of consulting engineering. “If somebody is ethically driven and wants to help build a better world, this is a great career choice. Consulting engineering provides a high-level of job satisfaction, because of the diversity of opportunities, not only in Canada, but globally,” says Hurd. “Without consulting engineers, we won’t be ready for communities of the future, our society won’t be able to flourish, and we won’t be able to advance or maintain our current infrastructure assets.”
Learn more at ACECOntario.ca.
