Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to increase 3 to 9 percent though 2012. According to the 2004 Job Outlook prepared by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, mechanical engineering will be one of the top five targeted undergraduate majors hired by both the government and manufacturers. Industries most interested in hiring mechanical engineers are:

	Aerospace
	Utilities
	Building materials and construction
	Chemical products
	Computers and business-equipment manufacturers

The workplace of today is quite different from that of just 10 or 20 years ago. Exciting is a good word to describe it. It is more diverse, more global, and includes more women and underrepresented minority groups. At the same time, workplace positions have become more flexible, benefitting both women and men. Examples of these changes include telecommuting, onsite child care, and continuing education support. A mechanical engineer's job crosses over into other disciplines, thanks to a changing workforce and the recognition that engineering is part of the wider world of knowledge.

As the business environment becomes increasingly competitive, engineers are called upon to operate at the highest level of efficiency. Companies are no longer looking out for career development of engineers as much as they used to. Multidisciplinary teams are becoming more and more common, as opposed to clusters of specialists. The age of the computer has allowed engineers to explore problems with a greater degree of rigor. This produces an environment in which the amount of information grows at a fast pace. There is a constant press to get more done with less, shorten schedules, decrease budgets, and reduce product costs. Compliance with regulation, standards, and project deadlines is often mandatory.