Mechanical Engineers - Employment & Outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Employment

Major employers:

Engineering firms
Navigation and measuring instruments firms
Aerospace products and parts manufacturers
Federal government agencies

Outlook

Demand for this career will grow slower than average. Mechanical engineers work in several different industries. As machinery becomes more automated, mechanical engineers will be needed to plan and design this equipment. However, some industries are declining, limiting some growth.

Job openings should result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other careers or leave the labor force.

Mechanical Engineers (CIS 100123)

Location	Employment	&	Growth		>>>>	Annual openings
			This occupation	All occupations
Illinois	12,527 Large	&	8.7%	8.2%	>>>>	872 High
Champaign Area	252 Medium	&	4.4%	-0.9%	>>>>	19 Very few
Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area	380 Large	&	6.6%	1.2%	>>>>	28 Few
Cook County	6,268 Large	&	-1.6%	0.6%	>>>>	411 Moderate
Decatur Area	249 Large	&	9.6%	5.5%	>>>>	20 Few
DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora Area	1,155 Very large	&	5.5%	2.5%	>>>>	86 Moderate
Du Page County	2,547 Very large	&	5.5%	3.3%	>>>>	191 High
Edwardsville Area	253 Medium	&	2.4%	5.5%	>>>>	18 Very few
Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area	84 Small	&	1.2%	-2.1%	>>>>	6 Very few
Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area	221 Large	&	7.7%	5.8%	>>>>	17 Very few
Lake County	1,109 Large	&	5.6%	1.9%	>>>>	83 Moderate
McHenry County	359 Large	&	3.9%	2.9%	>>>>	26 Few
Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area	177 Medium	&	5.6%	1.0%	>>>>	13 Very few
Northwest Illinois Area	446 Large	&	4.5%	2.6%	>>>>	32 Few
Peoria-Bloomington Area	1,264 Very large	&	5.9%	-1.9%	>>>>	96 Moderate
Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area	236 Medium	&	4.7%	-1.1%	>>>>	17 Very few
Rock Island-Moline Area	382 Large	&	8.9%	-1.8%	>>>>	30 Few
Rockford Area	886 Very large	&	4.9%	0.9%	>>>>	65 Moderate
Shawnee National Forest Area	76 Small	&	-5.3%	-2.3%	>>>>	5 Very few
Springfield Area	256 Medium	&	2.0%	0.0%	>>>>	18 Very few
St Louis-Belleville Area	297 Large	&	7.4%	-1.7%	>>>>	23 Few
Vermilion County	65 Small	&	3.1%	-3.0%	>>>>	4 Very few
Will County	631 Large	&	3.8%	4.1%	>>>>	46 Few
United States	284,900 Large	&	2.2%	5.3%	>>>>	17,900 Moderate