Rebirth of Manufacturing in the U.S.: What are the Implications for Chemical Engineers?

Technology advances have increased production of oil and natural gas from reserves that were previously unprofitable.  This rapid increase in production is restructuring the energy industry and providing more cost advantaged feedstocks and fuel to the nation’s manufacturing base, particularly the petrochemical industry.  This improved cost structure leads to increased competitiveness in the global markets and supports growth in the domestic industry.  Along with this growth comes the need for skilled engineers at a time when the demographic changes point toward a declining supply of engineering talent.