Should future job automation affect which engineering field I choose?
Automation should be one factor in choosing an engineering field, but it should not determine your choice by itself. Even when routine tasks are automated, skills such as defining problems, designing and testing solutions, and working across disciplines can remain important. Consider your interests and strengths, what you want to study, and the capabilities likely to be valued in different fields.
Key points
- Automation is more likely to change tasks and required skills than to eliminate every job in a field at once.
- Mathematics and engineering fundamentals, data literacy, and programming can be useful alongside design judgment and communication.
- Review curricula, laboratory or project work, and elective options to see whether the program supports skills applicable to more than one career path.
Things to check
- The effects of automation vary with technological development, industry, occupation, and region, so future demand cannot be predicted precisely.
- Specific course content and options vary by university, faculty, and academic year; check the intended program's official information.