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ADAPTABILITY OF THE ENGINEERING WORK FORCE:
INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM
THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Alan Eck
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Introduction
Through its Occupational Outlook Program, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
provides current occupational ~nfom~ation to a wide variety of users. This program,
conducted by the BLS' Office of Employment Projections, has seen its primary audience
change from the unemployed of the 1930s depression, to veterans returning to the civilian
job market after World War II, and since the late 1940s, to high school students seeking
assistance in choosing a career. Throughout, however, its focus has remained the same: to
provide current information about job duties and working conditions, current employment,
training requirements, earnings, and the outlook for jobs in about 200 occupations. The
program's major publication, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, appears biannually and
is widely used in high school vocational education progranns.~
To best serve its audience, the Handbook utilizes a nontechnical, narrative format In
presenting information. However, the information is based on careful analysis of BLS and
other data. Indeed, the program resides in the BLS to facilitate access to extensive survey
data available In other program offices. To provide students, counselors, researchers,
training program planners and others interested in the specific data used to develop
information in the Handbook, a statistical supplement, Occupational Projections and
Training Needs, also is produces! biannually.2
1Occupation41 Outlook Handbook, 19~-89 Edition (Bulletin 2300), Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Labor
Statistics, April 1988, is the most recent edition. The next is scheduled for publication in April 1990.
Occupational Projections and Training Data, 1988 Edition (Bulletin 2301), Washington, D.C.: Bureau of
Labor Statistics, April 1988.
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Unlike the Center for Education Statistics, which concentrates on analyzing
information about teachers, or the National Science Foundation (NSF) on scientists and
engineers, occupational analysis within the Office of Employment Projections embraces all
occupations. Analysis of engineering employment is part, but certainly not all, of this
effort.
Thus, to support the Occupational Outlook Program.and for other purposes, the
Bureau develops information about all occupations. A detailed system for projecting the
labor force, gross national product, productivity, and other economic variables is the
cornerstone for comprehensive occupational employment projections.3 Projections are
valuable because Hey permit calculation of expected and absolute rates of change for about
600 occupations. The former provides a partial measure of job opportunities; the latter is
useful for identifying the rapidly growing occupations that are generally considered to
provide better employment prospects.
While occupational employment projections are valuables dley are only a portion of
desirable occupational data and the BES supports efforts to develop additional
information. For example, since growth is an incomplete measure of job opportunities and
since job opportunities resulting from the need to replace workers who leave an occupation
gready exceed those due to growth, The potential for developing replacement needs data
was explored. Also, the desirability of providing information identifying The characteristics
of entrants and the existence of career ladders to students and training program planners
was recognized, and research to develop appropriate information was undertaken. These
research efforts utilized existing BES data and provide insights into He adaptability of
engineers.
In this paper, the two major BES occupational data sources are discussed, and a
brief overview of the information about engineers is presented. Be forewarned, however,
that this paper does not provide an intensive analysis of He labor market for engineers.
Data Sources
Current and projected employment data appearing In He Occupations Outiook
Handbook and Occupational Projections and Training Needs Data utilize inf~nat~on from
3A series of articles in the September 1987 Monthly Labor Review present the results. The articles and a
description of the projection methodology appear in Projections 2000, Bulletin 2302 (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, March 1988~.
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the BES national indusmy/occupanon Manx. Basic data for that matrix come from
Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) surveys conducted periodically by State
employment security agencies under a BLS-State cooperative program.4 The OES survey
obtains information from establishments rawer than individuals. Forms containing
occupational descriptions are provided employers, who then classify their employees by
occupation. Appendix 1 presents OES survey definitions for engineers. None of these
definitions require an individual to possess a college degree in order to be classified as an
engineer. Engineering teachers are not included among engineers; they are included in the
data for college and university facula. Also, sales engineers are included with sales
workers rather than engineers. The OES survey obtains only wage and salary employment
data and provides no demographic information about employees. Because data are
obtained from employers, the results count jobs, not individuals. For example, an
individual with two jobs would be included in the data twice, once with each employer.
To complete the national industry/occupation matrix, OES survey data are combined
with decennial Census of Population and Current Population Survey (CPS) occupational
employment information for the agriculture and private household industries as well as for
self-employed and unpaid family workers. Office of Personnel Management data provide
occupational employment infonna~aon for the federal government
Although BLS uses OES survey employment estimates in its Occupational Outlook
Program, the survey's usefulness in examining the adaptability of engineers is limited since
no demographic data are available. However, other BLS data-from the CPS-do provide
infonnation about the adaptability of engineers.5 The CPS is a monthly survey of
approximately 55,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the BLS.
Interviewers conduct the survey and ask questions to determine if individuals are
employed, unemployed, or out of the labor force. Information about industry and
occupation of employment-as weD as about age, sex, education, and many other
charactenstics also is obtained. After interviewers return the forms, Bureau of the
Census clerical personnel code responses to the survey questions "What kind of work
was doing? (For example: electrical engineer, stock clerk, typist, farmer.)" and
"What were 's most important activities or duties? (For example: types, keeps account
4Additional infonnation about the Occupation Employment Statistics survey appears in the publication
BLS [landbook of Methods, Bulletin 2285, (Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 1988), Chapter 3.
SA description of the CPS appears each month in "Explanatory Notes," Household Data section, of the
BLS publication, Employment and Earnings.
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books, files, sells cars, operates printing press, finishes concrete.)" into 1 of about 500
occupations established for use with the decennial Census of Population occupational
classification system. Since the classification system changes after each decennial Census,
occupational data may be consistent only for about 10 years. For example, from January
1972 through December 1982, the CPS used the 1970 Census of Population occupational
classification system; since January 1983, the 1980 system has been used. Fortunately,
changes in the system do not significantly impact the data about engineers. The job titles
included in each of the engineering occupations from the 1980 Census of Population
Classified Index of Industries and Occupations are presented in Appendix B.6 Engineering
teachers are included in the data for college and university faculty, and sales engineers are
now included with sales workers.
Unlike the OES surrey, In the CPS responses of individuals rawer than employers
determine occupation. There are no education standards; individuals with less than four
years of college may report and be classified as an engineer. In some cases this may result
in occupational upgrading (technicians may describe themselves as engineers). On the
other hand, individuals without degrees may correctly describe themselves as engineers.
An additional result of Me sunrey design is that the employment data count individuals, not
jobs. For this reason and others, occupational employment data from the CPS differ from
current and projected employment data appearing in the national industIy/occupation
matrix.
Table 1 compares 1986 CPS, OES, and (NSF) survey employment data for
engineers. While a discussion of how NSF data are derived and why they differ from the
OES and the CPS is beyond the scope of this paper, these data provide a comparison with
another major data source. Suffice to say that the NSF estimate of 2.6 million engineers,
which includes college faculty, is much higher than Me 1.7 million CPS estimate and Me
I.4 million OES survey-based estimate.
Information from the Current Population Survey
Many types of ~nfonnanon provide insights into Me adaptability of engineers and
Me labor market environment Cat requires adaptation; Me following reviews Nose available
_ .
61980 Census of Population: Classif ed Index of Industries and Occupations (PHCSO-R4), Washington,
D.C.: Bureau of the Census, November 1982.
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Table I. Comparison of 1986 Employment for Engineers (in thousands)
Current Population Survey Title
Current National National
Population Industry- Science
Surveys Occupation Foun~nonC
Matrixb
Engineers1,7491,3712,561
Aerospace engineers9353112
MetaBurg~cal&matenalseng~neers261859
Mining engineers9519
Petroleum engineers322238
Chemical engineers5953163
Nuclear engineers101425
Civil engineers233199366
Agricultural engineers3
Electrical & electronic engineers550401581
Indusmalengineers203117151
Mechanical engineers287233514
Manne engineers & naval architects13
Engineers, n.e.c.228257532
a Based on tabulation of Current Population Survey micro data for all months in 1986.
b George T. Silvestn and John M. Lukasiewicz, "A look at occupational employment trends to the year
2000," Monthly Labor Review, September 1987, Table 3, pg. 49-54.
c National Science Foundation, "Profiles - Mechanical Engineering: Human Resources and Funding" (NSF
87-310), (Washington, D.C.) Table 1.
- Data not available.
from the CPS. First, selected demographic characteristics are examined to obtain a sense
of how engineers differ from other professional workers and from all employees. Then,
employment trend data assess changes in demand for their services and changes in the
characteristics of workers. Finally, data about movements describe the sources of entrants
and the destination of leavers. Because significant errors can exist in data for small
occupations, inforrnanon is presented only for engineering occupations wig 100,000 or
more employees in 1988.
Selected Characteristics
When compared to all workers (Table 2), engineers are older Can all workers
(median years of age: 38.8 versus 36.2), have more education (median grade of school
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Table 2. Selected Charactensucs of Workers, 1988
Occupation 1988 Median MeAia'n
Employment Age
Percent of 1988
School Employees Females White
(thousands) Grade on Part
Completed TD
Schedules
Total employed,
age 16 & over115,003 36.2 12.9 17.2 45.0 86.8
Professional specialty
occupations15,010 38.5 17.2 15.1 49.8 89.3
Engineers1,815 38.8 16.8 2.2 7.4 89.6
Aerospace117 41.7 17.1 1.9 6.8 87.4
Civil224 39.2 16.9 2.2 6.3 89.4
Electrical & electronic572 37.9 16.9 1.7 8.1 88. ~
industrial220 39.4 16.3 1.5 13.0 90.5
Mechanical300 39.5 16.8 1.7 3.7 91.3
Engineers,n.e.c.228 39.7 16.8 3.5 6.8 90.5
Registered Nurses1,561 37.4 16.0 26.1 94.7 86. ~
Teachers, elementary1,423 40.1 17.4 10.7 84.6 88.0
Teachers, secondary1,193 41.1 17.7 9.5 51.2 90.4
Engineering & related
technologists & technicians934 34.3 13.9 5.6 18.8 89.5
Electrical & ele~n~c
technicians326 34.1 13.8 3.7 14.5 87.4
. · ~
~ngmeermg
technicians, n.e.c.224 34.4 14.0 9.4 31.1 87.9
Drafting occupations289 34.0 14.1 4.9 15.8 90.9
SOURCE: 1988 annual average Current Population Survey data
completed: 16.8 versus 12.9), have much smaller proportions of part-time wooers (2.2
versus 17.2 percent) and female workers (7.4 versus 45.0 percent), and have a higher
proportion of white workers (89.6 versus 86.8 percent). Except for smaller proportions of
part-time and female workers, however, die characteristics of engineers and all professional
workers are very similar.
Table 3 complements Me information on educational ana~nment provided In Table 2
by distributing engineers by highest grade completed. Seventy-two percent completed 16
or more years of school and probably have a college degree.
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CPS data also provide a glimpse at the relative stability of engineers. Occupational
tenure data measure the length of time individuals have done dhe kind of work they are now
doing while working for either their current or any previous employer. The median years
of tenure in dleir current occupation was 1 n s for fin Odin cli obtl`, hi of teak ·1~ 9 6
- --or ~ ^~^--~ ~9 =~ ll~l ~1~1 U1~
years for aD professional workers but significantly higher than the 6.6 years for an
employed workers (Table 4). Anodher measure that engineers tend to stay in the occupation
is provided by The proportion with 20 or more years tenure in the occupation. At 28.2
percent, The proportion is much higher than the 20.0 percent for an professional workers
and 14.6 percent for all workers.
Employment Trends
Demand for engineers has grown significantly over The last 25 years. Employment
increased from 985 Thousand in 1963 to 1.805 minion in 1988, an 83 percent increase
(Table 5). Only during 1968- 1973, when curtailments in the space program and military
involvement in Vietnam sharply reduced the need for engineers, was there any significant
deviation in the upward trend. Somewhat surprisingly, the 73 percent increase is about dhe
same as the 66 percent increase in total employment. In the last decade, however,
employment of aerospace, and electronic engineers has brown at least twice We rate as tom
employment (Table 6).
Table 3. Engineers, by Highest Grade of School Completed, 1988
Occupation
Percepl~ 1986 Erpploym:Ilt
Total 16 years 13-15 12 years
~ more years or less
Engineers 100.0 72.3 16.4 1 1.3
Aerospace 100.0 8 1.8 12.7 5.5
Civil 100.0 75.0 13.5 1 1.5
Electrical & elec~n~c 100.0 73.5 16.6 9.9
Industrial 100.0 56.5 22.9 20.6
Mechanical 100.0 71.0 17.6 1 1.4
Engineers, n.e.c. 100.0 72.1 19.1 8.8
SOURCE: 1988 annual average Current Population Survey data
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Table 4. Years of Tenure in Occupation, 1988
Occupation Years of Tenure in Current Occupation
Total Median Percent of Emplovees
Employed Total 3 or 4-9 10-19 20 or
(thousands) less _ more
.
Total employed
age 16&over109,090 6.6 100.0 36.5 26.1 22.9 14.6
Professional specialty
occupations14,448 9.6 100.0 23.7 27.5 28.9 20.0
Engineers1,784 10.5 100.0 19.9 27.6 24.4 28.2
Aerospace109 9.6 100.0 22.8 28.3 10.3 38.7
Civil237 13.0 100.0 17.8 19.7 28.9 33.5
Electrical & electronic520 10.4 100.0 18.2 29.6 25.3 26.9
Industrial213 8.9 100.0 24.5 29.0 24.6 21.9
Mechanical288 11.4 100.0 21.9 23.7 24.2 30.2
Engineers, n.e.c.269 10.0 100.0 19.8 30.0 25.2 24.6
Registered Nurses1,538 9.3 100.0 20.7 31.5 28.0 19.8
Teachers, elementary1,412 12.4 100.0 14.3 24.3 41.3 20.!
Teachers, secondary1,182 12.5 100.0 14.9 22.3 39.4 23.4
Engineering & related
technologists & technicians 847 7.6 100.0 29.7 29.4 24.1 ~ 6.8
Electrical & electronic 294 6.9 100.0 33.7 26.6 25.7 14.0
, · -
. ~ngmeermg
technicians, n.e.c. 205 7.7 100.0 28.2 30.5 29.5 Il.7
Draf~angoccupa~aons 281 8.0 100.0 28.8 29.9 19.1 22.2
SOURCE: January 1987 Current Population Survey.
Table 5. Employment, Selected Years fin thousands)
Occupation 1963 19681973197819831988
Total employed,
age 16 & over 69,084 75,92084,40994,375100,832114,968
Engineers 985 1,1931,0941,2651,5721,805
Aerospace 63 76595980115
Civil 158 167156160211218
Electrical & electronic 255 290272329450573
Industrial 113 149167206210221
Mechanical 201 227178216259297
Engineers, n.e.c. 103 133146173192230
SOURCE: Annual average Current Population Survey data
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Table 6. Percent Change in Employment, Selected Years
Occupation
Percent Change
1963-68 1968-73 1973-78 1978-83 1983-88
Total employed, age 16 & over 9.911.211.8 6.8 14.0
Engineers 21.1-8.315.6 24.3 14.8
Aerospace 20.6-22.4.0 35.6 43.8
Civil 5.1-6.62.6 31.9 3.3
Electrical & electronic 13.7-6.221.0 36.8 27.3
Industrial 12.012.123.4 I.9 5.2
Mechanical 12.9-21.621.4 20.0 14.7
Engineers, n.e.c. 29.19.818.5 11.0 19.8
SOURCE: Annual average Current Population Survey data
As the data presented earlier indicated, engineers are predominantly white males.
An increase in the proportions of non-whites and females over time indicates engineers are
expanding their traditional source of entrants. Such appears to be the case. Since 1963 the
proportion of non-whites has increased from 2.1 to 10.2 percent, and the proportion of
females from 0.7 to 7.3 percent (Table 71.
Gross Movements
Employment opportunities result Tom the creation of new jobs and the need to
replace workers. "Gross separation" data identify those workers who leave an occupation
and who must be replaced if employment levels are to be maintained Information about
gross separations not only identifies employment opportunities, but also indicates the
relative attachment of individuals to an occupation.
Using the CPS as a data base, a methodology has been developed to estimate the
proportion of workers leaving an occupation.7 Briefly, at 1-year intervals, 50 percent of
the households in the CPS sample are the same. Individuals who had not changed
residence were identified in each survey by matching data on computer tapes about the
household address and information about the age, sex, and race of the individuals. A
matched sample for each of 12 months was created and data describing changes in labor
7The methodology is described in detail in Occupational Projections and Training Data, 198~2 Edition
(Bulletin 2202), Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Labor Statistics, December l9X2, Appendix B.
91
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Table 7. Non-whites and Females, Selected Years, in percent
Occ ation 1963 1968 1973 1978 1983 1988
up
Total employed, age 16 & over
Non-whites
Females
Engineers
Non-whites
Females
~.
SOURCE: Annual average Current Population Survey data
10.3 10.8 10.8 1 1.2 1 1.8 13.2
25.6 36.6 38.4 41.2 43.7 45.0
2.1 3.3 3.7 5.5 8.1 10.2
.7 .7 1.3 2.8 5.8 7.3
force status tabulated. Matched data about changes in the labor force then were merged
with data on occupational changes from a special study conducted as part of the January
1987 CPS. The results, termed "merged data," provide a composite description of
movements into, out of, and between occupations over a 1-year period: they measure
gross movements.
Table 8 presents 198~87 gross separation data for engineers. Overall, 8.4 percent
left the demled occupation: about half, 4.3 percent, transferred to another occupation while
the remainder became unemployed (1.5 percent) or left the labor force (2.6 percent).S
Merged data show relatively few engineers leave from one year to the next. Their rate was
slightly lower than the 10.8 percent for all professional workers and much lower than the
18.0 percent for all employed persons. The merged data also identify differences In
separation rates among engineering specialities. Separation rates hovering around 6 percent
are observed for the most technical groups aerospace, civil, electrical and electronic, and
mechanical- about one-half Me rate for industrial and "engineers n.e.c." Over lame, the
levels of the rates and differences between occupations have remained relatively constant
(Table 9~. Industrial engineers consistently exhibit the highest separation rate.
Merged CPS data also can be tabulated to provide information about entrants. This
group includes individuals who entered the occupation to fill newly created jobs as well as
to replace engineers who left. The results reveal 5.8 percent of engineers were not in the
occupation a year earlier. The largest group consists of individuals ~ansfemDg from other
Transfers measure changes between detailed occupations and include employment in a different engineering
specify.
92
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future period, it is a useful exercise to make assumptions about the future and to compare
the results with conditions in the past. In this case, demand for additional engineers in
1978-1988 is compared with information for the 1988-1998 period. Demand for additional
engineers results from growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Growth is the easier component to identify.
Based on CPS annual average data, engineer employment 1978-1988 increased by
559,000 while experiencing twice tile growth rate for all workers (Table 161. By applying
the BES projected 1988-2000 annual rate of increase to 1988 employment and calculating
the change, engineering employment is expected to grow less rapidly but increase by
415,000 in the period 1988-1998. Estimating replacements is more complicated.
Gross flow data indicate about ~ percent of engineers leave the occupation from one
year to the next. Some become managers and leave permanently; others retire and leave
permanently; yet others leave temporarily to work in another occupation or stop working
for a variety of reasons. The group that leaves temporarily not only creates openings, but,
when returning to the occupation, constitutes part of the entrants. Because the number of
temporary movements out of an occupation are greatly affected by market conditions, they
are the most difficult to quantify. It is safe to say, however, that if more engineers are
needed, adjustments In Me labor market win occur. Perhaps more technicians or college
graduates with different specializations win be utilized. Quality may suffer, but
adjustments will be made. While recognizing that many opportunities arise because
Individuals leave eng~neenng temporarily, in this exercise, only opportunities resulting
from permanent separations are examined.
To estimate permanent separations, net leavers 1978-1988 were calculated by age
groups and summed to yield an estimate of 269,000 engineers who were replaced. To
calculate replacement needs 1988-199S, the proportion of net leavers from engineering
1978-1988 in each age group was calculated and applied to 1988 data for the comparable
age group. After summing, replacement needs 1988-1998 were determined to increase by
56,000 (20.8 percent), to 325,000. The increase is the result of an acing work force.
In summary, from 1978-1988 there was a need for 828,000 additional engineers.
Over the 1988- 1998 decade, the need is expected to decline ~ ~ percent to 740,000. One
note of caution before concluding that competition for new engineers win ease. In 1978,
the population contained 61.] Onion persons age I~24, the source of most additional
engineers. In 1988 the population in that same age group had declined to 54.0 minion, an
~ ~ percent decline ahnost identical to the expected ~ ~ percent decline in the need for
additional engineers (Table 17~.
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Table 16. lob Opportunities for Engineers, 1978-1988 and 1988-1998 (in thousands)
1978-1988 1988-1998
-
Percent Change
Total 828 740 - 10.6
Growth 559 415 -25.8
Replacement needsa 269 325 20.8
a Estimate of net leavers.
Table 17. Population Age 10-24, 1978 and 1988 (in thousands)
1978
l
Total
1988
Percent Change
Age 10-24 61,101 54,028 -11.6
Age 10-14 18,920 16,627 -12.1
Age 15-19 21,435 18,214 -15.0
Age 20-24 20,748 19,184 -7.5
.
SOURCE: 1978 and 1988 Current Population Survey annual average data.
Conclusion
Many organizations, including die National Science Foundation and the Center for
Education Statistics, are widely known for their efforts to collect and maintain data about
engineers. Perhaps less well known is the information available fimm Bureau of Labor
Sta~as~acs that has been presented in this paper. Much of the data on occupational transfers
and job tenure are unique because they are collected only in special supplements to the
Current Population Survey. The last was conducted in January 1987. Unfortunately,
another supplement has not been scheduled and, even if the money were found, probably
could not be conducted before 1991 because the Bureau of the Census will be concentrating
its efforts on the 1990 Census of Population. Now is the time to utilize what is available
and to plan for obtaining that which is desired.
103
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APPENDIX A
OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS SURVEY
DEFINITIONS FOR ENGINEERS
Forms used in the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey include these
definitions to be used by employers in identifying engineers.
22100 Engineers
Include persons engaged in the practical application of physical laws and principles
of engineering for die development and utilization of machines, matenals, instruments,
processes, and services. Include engineers in research development, production, technical
services, and other positions which require knowledge normally obtained through
completion of a 4-year engineering college program. Exclude persons Rained in
engineering but currently working in positions not requiring en~neenng Gaining.
22102 Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineers
Perform a vanety of engineering work in designing, constructing, and testing
aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate
adaptability of matenals and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May
recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques. Exclude sales engineers
and report them with the sales workers.
22105 Metallurgists and Metallurgical, Ceramic,
and Materials Engineers
Metallurgists and Metallurgical Engineers: Investigate properties of metals and
develop methods to produce new alloys, usages, and processes of extracting metals from
their ores. Include Physical and proactive Metallurgists. Ceramic Engineers: Conduct
research, design machinery, and develop processing techniques related to the
manufacturing of ceramic products. Materials Engineers: Evaluate, plan, and implement
processes to develop new matenals to meet product specifications, performance standards,
and costs. Exclude sales engineers and report them with the sales workers.
22108 Mining Engineers, including Mine Safety
Determine the location and plan the extraction of coal, metallic ores, nonmetallic
minerals, and building materials, such as stone and gravel. Work involves: Conducting
preliminary surveys of deposits or undeveloped mines and planning their development;
examining deposits or mines to determine whether they can be worked at a profit; making
geological and topographical surveys; evolving methods of mining best suited to character,
type, and size of deposits; and supervising mining operations. Exclude sales engineers and
report them with sales workers.
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22111 Petroleum Engineers
Devise methods to improve of! and gas well production and determine Me need for
new or modified too} designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice to achieve
economical and satisfactory progress. Exclude sales engineers and report them with the
sales workers.
22114 Chemical Engineers
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals
and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper and
pulp, applying pnnciples and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering. Exclude
sales engineers and report them with the sales workers.
22117 Nuclear Engineers
Conduct research on nuclear engineering problems or apply principles and theory of
nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and utilization of nuclear
energy. Exclude sales engineers and report them with the sales workers.
22121 Civil Engineers, including Traffic
Perform a variety of engineering work in planning, designing, and overseeing
construction and maintenance of structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, aborts,
bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, water and
sewage systems, and waste disposal units. Include traffic engineers who specialize in
studying vehicular and pedestnan traffic conditions.
22123 Agricultural Engineers
Applying knowledge of ¢ngineenng technology and biological science to
agncultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil
and water conservation, and processing of a~cuinu~ products. Exclude sales engineers
and report them with the sales workers.
22126 Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Design, develop, test and supervise the manufacture and installation of electrical
and electronic equipment, components or systems, computers and related equipment and
systems for commercial, industrial, military or scientific use. Exclude sales engineers and
report Hem with the sales workers.
22128 Industrial Engineers, except Safety
Perform a variety of engineering work in planning and overseeing the utilization of
production facilities and personnel in department or other subdivision of industrial
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establishment. Plan equipment layout, work flow, and accident prevention In department
or other subdivision of industrial establishment. Plan and oversee work, study and Mining
programs to promote efficient worker utilization. Develop and oversee quality control,
inventory control, and production record systems. Industrial product safety engineers
should be included with safety engineers.
22132 Safety Engineers, except Mining
Apply knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics' chemistry, psychology, and
ndustnal health and safety laws to prevent or correct injurious environmental conditions
and maize effects of human traits that create hazards to life and property or reduce
worker morale and efficiency. Include industrial product safety engineers.
22135 Mechanical Engineers
Perfonn a variety of engineering work in the planning and designing of tools,
engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment; and oversee ~nstaDation,
operation, maintenance, and rep air of such equipment, including cen~ized heat, gas,
water, and steam systems. Exclude sales engineers and report them with the sales
workers.
22138 Marine Engineers
Design, develop, and take responsibility for the installation of ship machinery and
related equipment, including propulsion machines and power supply systems. Exclude
marine architects. Exclude sales engineers and report them with the sales workers.
2199 All Other Engineers
Include all other workers in this category not classified separately above. Please
identify in Section V (at the end of this form) all occupations included in this category that
are numerically important and require substantial gaining, or are emerging due to
technological changes in your industry.
1
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APPENDIX B
1980 CENSUS OF POPULATION CLASSIFIED INDEX
OF INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS:
INFORMATION ABOUT ENGINEERS
The following lists occupational titles for each of the engineering categories. In
some cases only an occupational title is listed; in others an industry name anchor industry
co`le is includeci. When no industry information is provided the occupational title is
classified in the category regardless of the industry. If industry infonnation appears,
however, the title is classified in the category only if He individual reporting the title also
identified the corresponding industry. Additional information and industry names for
codes are provided in the 1980 Census of Population Classified Index of Occupations.
Professional Specially Occupations
044 Aerospace engineers
Ae~ynamicist-352~362
Aircraft designer
Airplane designer
Aviation consultant
Design analyst- 352,362
Designer 352,362
Dynamicist 352,362
. -
~ngmeer
Aerodynamics
Aeronautical
Aerospace
A - aR
AiIcrai t instrument
Airplane
Astronautical
Aviation-(352)
Chief, n.s. 352,362
Design, n.s. 352,362
Field service-352,362
Flight 352,362
Flight test 292,352,362,931,932
Helicopter (352)
Propeller 352,362
Propulsion-352,362
Stress-352,362
Supersonic 352,362
Test-352,362
Test facility 292,352,362
Thermodynamics-352,362
Transonic-352,362
Vibration-352,362
Wind tunnel 352,362
N.s. 352,362
Flight analyst 352,362
Flight dynamicist
Master-lay-out man-352,362
Physical aer~ynamicist 352,362
Sweet analyst-352
Test analyst- 352,362
Thennodynamicist- 352,362
045 Metallurgical and materials
engineers
, ~
ngmeer
Ceramic (882)
Design, n.s. 270-280
Foundry process
Matenals Exc. B
Metallurgical
Ore dressing
Process-272,280,290,291,300,301
Refining-270-280
Smelting
Stress 270,271,280-291,300
Testing 270,271,280-291,300
Welding
Effective metallurgist
Foundry metallurgist
Metallographer
Metallurgical specialist
Metallurgist
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Physical me~urgist
Radiologist Exc. K,812-840
046 Mining engineers
Engineer
Design, n.s.-040,041,050
Exploration 040,041,050
Geological 040-050
Geophysical
Mine development
Mine exploration
Mine production
Miner
log
Safety 040,041,050
Inspector
Safety, n.s. 040-050
Mine analyst 040,041,050
Mine expert- 040,041,050
Supervisor
Safety 040,041,050
Teachers, exe. elementary
and secondary
Safety U.S. Bureau of Mines 931
047 Petroleum engineers
Engineer
Design, n.s. 042
Exploration 042
Logging 042
Mud-042
Natural gas 042
Oil well-042
Petroleum
Safety 042
Test 042
WeD surveying-042
N.s. 042
Prospecting observer 042
Safety analyst 042
Safety director-042
Seismic observer 042
Superintendent, of] well services
042 Supervisor
Mud-analysis 042
Well-Iogging captain 042
048 Chemical engineers
Blending coordinate 200
Engineer
Absorption
Adso~pnon
Chemical (882)
Chemical process development
Chemical test
Corrosion
Design, n.s.-180-201
Explosives
Fuels
Gas combustion
Lubricating 200
Plant 180-192
Plastics
Plating
Process 180-200
Research chemical
N.s. 180,181-192,210,211
Manager
Research-200
Sand analyst 270-291~300-370,400,760
Sand technologist-270-291,30
370,400,760
Supervisor
Monomer-recov~y 180, 182,191,192
Poly-area-180-192
Polymerization-18~192
Technical 18~192
Technical director 180-192
049 Nuclear engineers
E.
ng~neer
Atomic process
Design, nuclear equipment
Nuclear
Radiation
Radiation protection
Radiological
Reactor
Radiation officer- FGOV
Radiological -defense officer FGOV
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053 Civil engineers
Engineer
Atomic process
Design, nuclear equipment
Nuclear
Radiation
Radiation protection
Radiological
Reactor
Radiation officer- FGOV
Radiolog~cal-defense officer FGOV
053 Civil engineers
Engineer
Ailport- B
Architectural
Asphalt
Base FGOV
Bndge B
Building 441
Building construction
Cadas~
Cartographic
Chief, n.s. 470
cite
Concrete
Condemnation 412,900-932
Construction
Contracting B
County- (B)
Demolition
Design, bndges (~82)
Design, highway
Design, road
Design, n.s. B
District-B
Drainage (B)
Erecting Exc. 310,312,320,
331,332
nOOd control (B)
Forestry
Foundation-(B)
Geodetic
Geological Exc. 04~050
Highway
Highway research
Highway safety
Hydraulic Exc. C, 100-392
Hydrographic
· -
mgatlon
Maintenance 400
Mapping
Ma~cenals B
Municipal (B)
Process B
Public health (840)
Railroad, exe. operating main
Reclamation (B)
Resident
Road B
Sanitary
Sanitation, exe. wash
or garbage collection
Sewage disposal
Street-B
Street B
S rum
Structural steel
- (471)
Topographical
Traffic B,400
Transportation
Traveling-B
Water supply
Water treatment plant
Zoning City Planning Board 901
N.s.-B,H,LGOV 900-932
N.s. Surveying co. 882
Supenntendent, n.s. 470
054 Agricultural engineers
E.
ngmeer
Agriculhual
Design, n.s. 311
Test 311
05S Electrical and electronic
engineers
Assigner, exe. clerical- 441
Assignment man-441
Circuit designer-340-350
Communications consultant 441
Electrolysis investigator 441
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Electron~c-parts designer 340-350
Engineer
Acoustical
Audio-882
Cable-441
Central-office equipment
Chief, n.s.-440,441,460
Circuit design
Commercial- 440,44l,460
Circuit design
Commercial 440,460,462
Communications
Computer application
Corrosion control
Design, electncal
Design, electronic equipment
Design, n.s.-340-350,440-460
Dial equipment-441
Distribution 460
Distnct plant 441
Division-460
Division plant 441
Electrical
Electrolysis
Flectronic
Electronic systems
Elecmophonic
Equipment 441,460
Facilities 441
Guidance and control systems
~u~na~g
Induction coordination
Lighting
Line construction 460
Maintenance 460
Meter 460
Microwave
Outside plant 441
Plant-441,460,462
Power generation-460
Protection 460
Radar
Radio
Radio station
Relay 460
Results 460
Rural elec~if~ca~aon
Service-340-350,460
Signal
Sound 800
Station, n.s. 440
Studio operation 441
Systems
Telecommunications
Telephone- (4413
Television (440)
Testing-Electrical engineering co.~82
Traffic- 44l,442
Traffic circuit-441
Traffic routing 441
Transmission 441,460
Transmitter 441
Wire communications
N.s. 32l,342,382,44l,442,460
Engineering analyst
Inspector
Cable 460
Line-construction superintendent 441,460
Radiminterference expert
Supervisor
Microwave
056 Industrial engineers
Efficiency analyst (742)
Efficiency expert (742)
~ -
. ~ngmeer
Efficiency
Establishing methods C,100-222,
231-392
Factory lay-out
Field-H
Fire prevention U.S. Army Base 932
hndusmal
Inspecting H
Manufactunng, exe. chief
Methods
Production
Production too]
Quality condor
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Safety Any not listed above
Standards
Time study
Industnal-methods consultant (~82)
Matenal analyst 352,362
Matenal scheduler 352,362
Medical-safety director Oxygen 192
Metrologist
Production-contro! expert
Production-contro! planner-C,100-392
Production expert
P: - uction planner Exc. 341
P: - ucuon scheduler C, 100-392
Quality-contro} director
Quality-contro! expert
Safety coordinator C,100-392
Safer director Exc. 040-050,410
Supervisor
Safety-C,100-392
Tool planner-C,100-392
Traffic-rate analyst C,100-392
Waste-elimination man
057 Mechanical engineers
engine designer
~ -
. ~ngmeer
· · · · .
Alr cone 1tlonlng, exe. open
air coed. systems
Auto research
Automotive Exc. 351,590,
612-622,750,751
-
Body 351
Brake 351
Combustion
Cryogenics
Design, cooling and hearing
systems
Design, machine
Design, mechanical
Design, tool
Design, n.s. 281-291,300-310,
312-332,351,361,370,760
Diesel Exc. 400
Distribution 461
Dust control
Equipment-Exc. 441,460
Erecting - 310,312,320,331,332
Field service 310,312,320,
331,332
Heating, exe. operators
of heating systems
Hydraulic-C, 100-392
Internal combustion
Mechanical
Mechanical development
Mechanical research
Plant-Mfg. not listed above
Ref~igeranon, exe. open
Of refrig. systems
Sheet metal 282
Textile
Tool
Tool and die
Tooling
Utilization 460-462
Ventilating
N.s. 292,331,351
Factory expert-351
Machine designer
Machine-tool designer
Safety analyst Exc. 040-050
Venulaung expert (B)
058 Marine engineers
and nave! architects
Engineer
Boat (420)
Chief, n.s. 420
Chief, n.s.-Commercial
fishing 031
Hull-360
Licensed marine-420
Maline Exc. fire department 910
Naval
Pore 420
Ship 420
Tugboat-420
N.s.- 360,420
Marine architect (882)
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Manne surveyor
Naval architect (~82)
059 Engineers, n.e.c.
Engineer
Application, exe. computer application
Biomedical
Chief, n.s. 882
Consulting, n.s.-(~82)
Design, n.s.-Any not listed above
Distnbution-Exc. 460,461
District plant - Exc. 441
Environmental
Factory
Human factors
Installation
Logistics 292,352,362
Ma~emancal
Medical
Optical (372)
Ordnance
Packaging
Photographic
PoDution~ontro}
Process Any not listed above
Reliability
Salvage Exc. 332
Service 882
Staff, field
Technical, testing 800
Technical, n.s. (~82)
Testing Any not listed above
Traffic Any not listed above
N.s. OWN 882 Exc. surveying co.
N.s. 730, FGOV 900-932
112
Representative terms from entire chapter:
population survey
