Stationary Engineers

Employment for stationary engineers is expected to grow by 3 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Slow employment growth is due to declining job demand in manufacturing. In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic affected many industries, with business operations either shut down or resumed with fewer workers. Stationary engineers are considered "essential workers," however, and have continued working during the pandemic. In general, industrial and commercial development will continue, and thus more equipment will be installed and need to be operated by stationary engineers, but much of the new equipment will be automated and computerized. The greater efficiency of such controls and instrumentation will tend to reduce the demand for stationary engineers.

Employment opportunities for stationary engineers will be best for those with apprenticeship training or vocational school courses covering systems operations using computerized controls and instrumentation, and those who are licensed to practice where the job is located. Even with that training, workers will face competition for job openings.

Job openings will also develop when workers transfer to other jobs or leave the workforce, but turnover in this field is low, due in part to its high wages.