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Recruiting Mechanical Engineers in Canada, the United States,
the United Kingdom and Ireland
Demand for Mechanical Engineers in Calgary
Mechanical engineers have been identified as a high-demand occupation in Calgary, based on
the Calgary Labour Demand Forecast 2012.1 In 2010, there were about 4,500 mechanical
engineers in the Calgary labour force. Between 2010 and 2020, demand for these workers is
expected to grow annually by about 3.1 per cent, resulting in a labour demand for over 6,100
workers in 2020. Employers will likely face difficulties recruiting qualified workers for both
newly-created jobs and existing positions that become vacant. During the global economic
slowdown of 2007-2009, 73 per cent of mechanical engineer employers in Calgary recruited to
fill vacant positions. Of these employers, 67 per cent reported experiencing hiring difficulties.2
The combination of growing demand and limited supply are likely to result in shortages of
mechanical engineers in Calgary over the next decade.
In order to meet the high demand for mechanical engineers, Calgary employers may need to
access labour markets outside of Calgary, including international labour markets, to meet a
portion of their hiring needs. To facilitate targeted recruiting efforts, Calgary Economic
Development (CED) has created this guide to identify the best cities and regions for recruiting
workers in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Top cities and regions
for recruiting are recommended based on the size of the occupational labour force and the
likelihood that workers will migrate out of the area.3
Top Locations for Recruiting in Canada
Canada’s three largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs), Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver,
have the largest labour force of mechanical engineers with 11,500 mechanical engineers in
Toronto, about 5,000 mechanical engineers in Montreal and 3,200 mechanical engineers in
Vancouver. Average hourly pay for mechanical engineers in Calgary is higher than that of most
other cities in Canada, at $37.58. This compares favourably with average hourly pay in Toronto
$31.43 at and in Vancouver at $32.69.
1
See Calgary Labour Demand Forecast 2012
See Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2009
3
An out-migration probability index of workers is estimated based on a set of factors that are indicators of future
migration. Factors include historical migration patterns, demographics of the occupational labour force, local
economic conditions, median income, and the presence of foreign workers in the labour force.
2
1
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For each CMA, an out-migration probability index score has been estimated that gives an
indication of the likelihood that workers in a city will make an inter-provincial move out of that
city. Overall, out-migration probability index scores are similar for mechanical engineers in
most Canadian cities; recruiting is therefore recommended in the largest cities, but employers
may also experience success recruiting in mid-sized Canadian cities.
Younger workers have a higher-than-average probability of making an inter-provincial move
and Québec City has a large percentage of mechanical engineers under age 35 (45 per cent of
the mechanical engineer labour force). Approximately 41 per cent of the mechanical
engineering labour force in Windsor and 39 per cent of the labour force in Edmonton and
London are under age 35. Immigrants and previous inter-provincial migrants also have a
higher-than-average probability of future migration. Edmonton, Windsor and Hamilton all have
a relatively large percentage of immigrants within the mechanical engineering labour force (as
do Toronto and Vancouver).
Table 1 Recruiting Indicators for Mechanical Engineers in Canada, by CMA
Percent of Occupational Labour Force
Rank
Census Metro Area
Employment
(2010)
Average
Wage
Per Hour
Emigration
Probability
Index
Under
Age 35
(2010)
International or
Inter-Provincial
Migrants
4
(5 Year Period)
Immigrants
to Canada
2001-2006
NonPermanent
Residents
(2006)
Toronto
11,555
31.43
103
25%
14%
15%
1%
Montréal
4,989
n.a.
103
37%
9%
8%
0%
Vancouver
3,268
32.69
103
30%
14%
8%
2%
Ottawa
1,549
31.88
103
22%
8%
4%
1%
Edmonton
1,768
37.58
103
39%
20%
9%
1%
Québec
907
n.a.
104
45%
3%
2%
0%
KitchenerCambridge-Waterloo
961
27.29
103
32%
7%
6%
0%
7
Windsor
954
30.92
103
41%
10%
6%
2%
8
Hamilton
938
31.29
103
23%
10%
9%
2%
9
London
508
30.35
103
39%
5%
6%
2%
10
Calgary
4,520
37.58
103
28%
32%
20%
2%
Note: Data is measured for Census Metropolitan Areas unless otherwise noted. Figures for Calgary may differ from information
presented earlier in this report describing labour demand for the Calgary Economic Region. Sources: Labour Force Survey, 2006
Census of Canada, RDA Global, Labour Market Information - HRSDC WorkingInCanada.gc.ca
1
2
3
4
5
6
4
International and inter-provincial migration statistics are analyzed based on data collected in the 2001 and 2006
Census. The data required to analyze this migration pattern for the most recent 5 year period is not available at
the time of this analysis.
2
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Table 2 Wages for Mechanical Engineers in Canada, by CMA
Recent Wage Range (CAD)
Census Metro Area
Provincial Annual Wages
5
or Salary, 2005
Average
Reference
High Wage
Median
Average
Wage
Year
Toronto
20.00
31.43
46.68
2010*
73,782
78,708
Montréal
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
66,882
71,633
Vancouver
23.75
32.69
60.10
2011*
69,981
75,510
Ottawa
20.43
31.88
47.61
2010
73,782
78,708
Edmonton
30.58
37.58
45.99
2011
79,318
97,238
Québec
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
66,882
71,633
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo
18.27
27.29
37.21
2010
73,782
78,708
Windsor
23.75
30.92
43.47
2010
73,782
78,708
Hamilton
19.75
31.29
46.30
2010
73,782
78,708
London
20.00
30.35
39.00
2010
73,782
78,708
92,734
104,657
Calgary
30.58
37.58
45.99
2011
Note: Data is measured for Census Metropolitan Areas unless otherwise noted. *Wage data reflects provincial average.
Sources: 2006 Census, Labour Market Information - HRSDC WorkingInCanada.gc.ca
Low Wage
Top Locations for Recruiting in the United States
In the United States, the occupation most closely aligned with NOC 2132 Mechanical Engineers
is: SOC 17-2141: Mechanical Engineers.
The US cities with the largest labour force of mechanical engineers are Los Angeles (L.A.) and
Houston with 8,100 workers and 7,500 workers respectively. Non-US citizens working in the US
have a higher-than-average probability of making a long-distance move and they comprise 17
per cent of the mechanical engineering labour force in Houston, and 14 per cent of the labour
force in L.A. Houston has one of the youngest populations of mechanical engineers with 32 per
cent of workers under age 35. Unemployment is currently high in L.A., at 10.7 per cent which
may push some families and workers to seek work outside of the L.A. area. Mean annual
incomes for mechanical engineers in Houston and L.A. are both lower than that of Calgary at
USD $99,800 and USD $87,340 respectively in 2010 (Calgary mean base pay for mechanical
engineers was $104,657 in 2009).
Among occupations in the US, mechanical engineers have a high probability of making a longdistance move and mechanical engineers in Denver, Seattle, and Houston have the some of the
highest out-migration probability index scores. The size of the labour force in Denver and
Seattle is comparatively smaller at 2,800 mechanical engineers in Denver and 3,700 mechanical
engineers in Seattle. Boston and Chicago both have larger mechanical engineering labour
forces, but Boston currently has low unemployment, at 5.7 per cent and workers in Chicago
5
Calgary median annual salary is calculated based on average hours worked per week and median hourly wage
rate reported in the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. The average annual salary is the actual figure from the
survey. Annual figures for other cities in Table 2 are from HRSDC.
3
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have historically had a low rate of out-migration, based on analysis of the data from the
American Community Survey.
The mean annual salary for mechanical engineers in most US cities is lower than that of Calgary.
Mechanical engineers from Minneapolis-St. Paul or Chicago could potentially experience the
greatest increase in earnings by relocating to Calgary. Average salaries are slightly below USD
$80,000 annually in these cities.
Table 3 Out-Migration Indicators of Mechanical Engineers in Top 10 US Cities, 2010
Pct. of
Pct. Of
OutWorkers who
Mean
Workers
Migration
Unemployment
Rank
Metro Area
are Non-US
Age
Under Age
Probability
Rate
Citizens
35
Index*
1
Houston-Brazoria, TX
7,510
17%
43
32%
116
7.6
2
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
8,140
14%
45
26%
113
10.7
3
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
5,230
6%
44
25%
115
7.4
4
Washington, DC/MD/VA
5,120
7%
43
34%
115
5.4
5
Boston, MA-NH
6,200
5%
44
29%
111
5.7
6
Chicago, IL
5,400
9%
45
27%
112
9.6
7
Seattle-Everett, WA
3,690
9%
44
25%
116
8
8
San Jose, CA
3,950
17%
45
27%
114
9.2
9
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
3,990
3%
42
35%
113
5.1
10
Denver-Boulder, CO
2,800
6%
45
29%
117
7.9
United States
234,400
7%
44
28%
114
8.2
*The Out-Migration Probability Index gives an indication of the number of workers in the target occupation in each metropolitan
area that have made an interregional move in the past 5 years. The index also reflects factors that may affect worker migration,
such as historical migration patterns, demographics of the occupational labour force, local economic conditions, median income,
and the presence of foreign workers in the labour force. US Average Out-Migration Probability = 100 (for all US workers in all
occupations).
Number
of
Workers
Table 4 Wages of Mechanical Engineers in Top Ranked Cities for Recruiting in the United States, 2010
Mean
Mean
Median Salary by Quartile (USD)
Hourly
Annual
Workers
Lower
Lower
Upper
Upper
Wage**
Salary**
Median
10%
25%
25%
10%
(USD)
(USD)
Houston-Brazoria, TX
7,510
47.98
99,800
53,090
69,880
92,260
125,010
158,360
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
8,140
41.99
87,340
50,410
65,980
84,150
107,060
131,070
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
5,230
40.48
84,200
54,770
67,540
79,990
97,640
119,370
Washington, DC/MD/VA
5,120
52.79
109,810
60,450
73,540
100,910
133,940
165,180
Boston, MA-NH
6,200
42.36
88,110
57,430
68,050
85,380
105,730
126,200
Chicago, IL
5,400
38.44
79,960
48,640
58,780
72,890
90,100
113,560
Seattle-Everett, WA
3,690
43.34
90,140
58,610
69,990
86,790
106,540
133,370
San Jose, CA
3,950
50.18
104,380
65,490
80,290
100,810
126,260
150,740
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
3,990
38.23
79,510
53,530
62,600
76,800
93,610
113,430
Denver-Boulder, CO
2,800
44.79
93,170
56,270
70,030
90,730
114,990
137,770
United States
234,400
39.65
82,480
50,550
62,360
78,160
98,150
119,480
Calgary (in $ CAD)
4,520
$37.58
$104,657
n.a.
**Source for Calgary wage and salary figures is the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. Results are updated every 2 years.
At the time of this analysis 2011 figures were not yet published. US Data Sources: Bureau of Labour Statistics Occupational
Employment Database, American Community Survey, US Census 2010. Analysis by RDA Global.
Metropolitan Statistical
Area
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Top Locations for Recruiting in the United Kingdom and Ireland
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the occupation most closely related to mechanical
engineers is:
UK/IE SOC 2122: Mechanical Engineers
In 2010, there were approximately 78,000 mechanical engineers in the UK labour force and
approximately 5,100 workers in the Irish labour force. Average annual income for mechanical
engineers in the UK was about £44,000 in 2010 (approximately CAD $70,000), which is lower
than average salaries for mechanical engineers in Calgary are nearly CAD $105,000 in 2009.
Official data on wages of mechanical engineers in Ireland is not available from government
sources, but income figures presented in Table 5 are sourced from Irish-based global
professional recruitment consultancy, Morgan McKinley’s 2011 Salary Guide for Irish
Occupations.6 According to the salary guide, Irish mechanical engineers are paid between
€32,000 and €62,000 per year (approximately CAD $44,000 to $85,000).
Within the United Kingdom, the top regions for recruiting are Greater London, the surrounding
South East Region (including Brighton, Oxford, Portsmouth, and Southampton), and the
Eastern Region of England (including Cambridge, Norwich, Peterborough, Ipswich).
The highest level of historical out-migration is from the South East Region and Greater London,
based on analysis of the Quarterly British Labour Force Survey. Foreign workers represent a
growing share of people migrating out of the UK; as of 2010, non-British citizens represented 65
per cent of long-term migrants leaving the UK, up from 43 per cent in 2005.7 About 7 per cent
of mechanical engineers in the UK are non-British citizens and about 11 per cent of mechanical
engineers in Ireland are non-Irish citizens. London has the greatest number of non-British
citizens in the UK labour force (13 per cent of mechanical engineers in London are non-British
citizens and 4 per cent are non-EU citizens). Younger workers have a higher probability of outmigration and the largest group of young mechanical engineers are in the South East Region.
Table 6 contains information on the size and characteristics of the UK labour force for
mechanical engineers. Regional data is not available on the mechanical engineering labour
force in Ireland but in discussions with Engineers Ireland8 in August-September 2011, officials
indicated that a national recruiting approach will be effective for mechanical engineers in
Ireland, if recruiting is performed from Dublin or Cork, the two largest cities in Ireland.
6
The Salary Guide is available online at: www.slideshare.net/toneill123/morgan-mckinleys-2011-salary-guide
Source: United Kingdom International Passenger Survey (IPS); Estimates of long-term international migration,
rolling annual data to Q4 2010.
8
The Engineering Council (UK) and Engineers Ireland are national regulatory bodies for engineers in the UK and
Ireland.
7
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Foreign Credential Recognition
When recruiting engineers in the UK and Ireland, Alberta employers are advised to consult The
Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) to
determine which workers are most likely to meet the requirements for licensure in Alberta.
Information on foreign credential recognition for engineers in the UK and Ireland is available
from the Alberta Department of Human Services at:
http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/working/occupations.aspx
Table 5 Salary Range for Mechanical Engineers in Ireland, 2011
Location, Range
Mechanical Engineer, Ireland
2011
Euro
$ CAD
Regions, Low
€ 32,000
$ 44,000
Dublin, High
€ 62,000
$ 85,000
Mechanical
Engineer, Calgary
2009
$104,657
Sources: Morgan McKinley’s 2011 Salary Guide: www.slideshare.net/toneill123/morgan-mckinleys-2011-salary-guide; 2009
Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Calgary Economic Region. Average month-end 2010 annual exchange rate: €1=$1.3652 CAD.
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Table 6 Recruiting Indicators for Mechanical Engineers - UK and Ireland, 2010
Rank
Region/
Country
1
South East
2
London
3
Eastern
4
North West
5
East
Midlands
6
West
Midlands
7
South West
8
Yorkshire &
Humberside
9
Scotland
10
Wales
Major Cities
Brighton, Oxford,
Portsmouth,
Southampton
Greater London
Greater London,
Cambridge, Norwich,
Peterborough,
Ipswich
Manchester,
Liverpool, Preston,
Blackpool
Nottingham-Derby,
Leicester,
Northampton
Birmingham,
Coventry
Bristol,
Bournemouth,
Plymouth
Leeds, Sheffield,
Bradford, Wakefield,
Hull
Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Aberdeen
Cardiff, Swansea
Number
of
Workers
Percentage
of Workers
who are
NonNational
Citizens
Percentage
of Workers
who are
Non-EU
Citizens
10,969
8%
8,531
Median
Age*
Pct. Of
Workers
Under
Age 35
OutMigration
Probability
Index**
Median
Annual
Income
2010
(GBP)
Median
Annual
Income
2010
(CAD)
Mean
Annual
Income
2010
(GBP)
Mean
Annual
Income
2010
(CAD)
3%
39.5
42%
107
£32,187
$51,205
£33,864
$53,873
13%
4%
49
29%
107
38,628
61,452
40,526
64,472
9,750
11%
5%
42
26%
105
34,878
55,486
36,470
58,019
8,531
7%
2%
37
38%
105
-
-
33,088
52,639
7,313
5%
5%
43
31%
105
33,836
53,829
35,114
55,862
6,094
3%
3%
42
32%
105
30,774
48,958
31,356
49,883
4,875
6%
4%
44
29%
106
28,165
44,807
29,759
47,343
7,313
0%
0%
50
25%
103
33,058
52,591
33,049
52,577
6,094
7%
0%
42
32%
103
29,513
46,951
33,627
53,496
3,656
6%
6%
39
29%
104
34,131
54,298
34,290
54,551
78,000
7%
3%
43
32%
105
£40,226
$63,995
£43,829
$69,727
Total UK
Total Ireland
5,100
11%
n.a.
53
17%
113
See Table 5
Calgary
4,520
n.a.
28%
n.a.
$104,657
*British data source reports median age figures, while Irish and US data sources report mean age figures. ** Out-Migration index scores for the UK are not directly comparable
with those of cities in the US or Ireland. Sources: Quarterly British Labour Force Survey, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (UK), Central Statistics Office Ireland, Analysis by
RDA Global.
7
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