Electronic Design 2006 Reader Profile Survey Results

Total number of respondents: 2597.

Section A: About You Professionally

Questions in this section included:

A1. What is your principal job function?
A2. What is your job title?
A3. Is this the same job title you held at this time last year?
A4. If you changed job titles within the past year, what was the primary reason for change?
A5. Which of the following best describes your current employment status?
A6. How many hours during the typical workweek do you spend: At your office; Working at home; Working at other locations; On call?
A7. Which of the following best describes your current design project?
A8. Which of the following markets are the products your company designs sold into?
A9. Some industry data suggest that there is a growing shortage of analog engineers. Does your organization have difficulty finding qualified analog engineers?
A10. If yes, what are some of the ways your organization is addressing the shortage?
A11. In your opinion, what are some of the reasons why analog engineers might be getting harder to find?
A12. How many members, including yourself, comprise your current design team: At your location; At other locations within the US; At other locations outside the US?

The responses broke down as follows:

A1. What is your principal job function? (select one) Responses: 2398 Design & development engineering

68.9%1652Engineering management

12.3%296Executive/operating management

6.8%162Other

12.0%288 A2. What is your job title? Responses: 2385 President/owner/CXO/other executive management

9.8%233Vice president/VP of engineering

2.2%53Department head/section head

3.6%86Technical director/director of engineering/R&D/engineering manager

5.3%126Group leader/project team leader/project manager

6.5%155Chief engineer/senior engineer/lead engineer/principal engineer

14.0%335Applications/systems engineering manager

1.6%37Hardware/software engineering manager

2.1%50Manufacturing/production manager

0.6%15QC/evaluation/test manager

0.7%17Design engineer/project engineer/R&D engineer

20.1%479Systems engineer/applications engineer

4.9%117Hardware engineer/software engineer

9.4%224Manufacturing/production engineer

1.3%30Test engineer

3.2%77Consulting engineer/scientist

3.5%83MTS

0.5%12Other

10.7%256 A3. Is this the same job title you held at this time last year? Responses: 2415 Yes

86.8%2096No

13.2%319 A4. If you changed job titles within the past year, what was the primary reason for change? Responses: 559 Promotion with same employer based upon merit/training

36.3%203Reassignment because of layoffs or restructuring with same employer

10.4%58Laid off or fired from previous company

6.8%38Left previous company to pursue other opportunities

23.8%133Other

22.7%127 A5. Which of the following best describes your current employment status? Responses: 2412 Full time

86.7%2091Part time

2.6%62Freelance/self employed

8.0%193Contract worker

1.7%40Other

1.1%26 A6. How many hours during the typical workweek do you spend:

At your office? Mean: 42.19 Responses: 2383 More than 60 hours

2.6%6156-60 hours

5.1%12151-55 hours

7.5%17846-50 hours

19.8%47241-45 hours

35.0%93436-40 hours

15.7%37431-35 hours

3.4%8026-30 hours

2.3%5521-25 hours

1.5%3516-20 hours

1.8%4215 or fewer hours

5.5%131 Working at home? Mean: 8.06 Responses: 2361 More than 60 hours

0.7%1756-60 hours

0.7%1651-55 hours

0.3%746-50 hours

1.2%2841-45 hours

1.1%2636-40 hours

1.2%2831-35 hours

0.8%2026-30 hours

1.7%4121-25 hours

2.0%4716-20 hours

6.4%15111-15 hours

5.8%1376-10 hours

17.3%4091-5 hours

35.8%845None

24.9%589 Working at other locations? Mean: 2.25 Responses: 2201 More than 20 hours

2.5%5416-20 hours

2.4%5211-15 hours

1.6%366-10 hours

7.1%1561-5 hours

18.5%408None

67.9%1495 On call? Mean: 1.52 Responses: 2155 More than 10 hours

8.4%1806-10 hours

2.5%541-5 hours

16.2%350None

72.9%1571 A7. Which of the following best describes your current design project? (select one) Responses: 2399 Computer product design (supercomputers, mainframes, workstations, servers, PCs, notebooks/laptops, peripherals, boards, etc.)

4.1%98Communications systems and equipment (local-area/wide-area networking products, wireless, cellular, RF and microwave, Bluetooth, etc.)

12.1%291Industrial controls systems and equipment (including robotics)

13.5%324Test and measurement equipment

8.0%193Power design

5.7%136Safety/security

1.5%36Research & development

8.6%206Software design/development/programming

4.9%117Medical electronics products

5.9%141Consumer electronics products

5.5%131Automotive electronics products

4.0%95Avionics, marine, or space

4.7%112Military electronics products

6.5%155Components and subassemblies

1.8%44ICs and semiconductors

5.5%132Other

7.8%188

Total number of respondents: 2597.

Section A: About You Professionally

Questions in this section included:

A1. What is your principal job function?
A2. What is your job title?
A3. Is this the same job title you held at this time last year?
A4. If you changed job titles within the past year, what was the primary reason for change?
A5. Which of the following best describes your current employment status?
A6. How many hours during the typical workweek do you spend: At your office; Working at home; Working at other locations; On call?
A7. Which of the following best describes your current design project?
A8. Which of the following markets are the products your company designs sold into?
A9. Some industry data suggest that there is a growing shortage of analog engineers. Does your organization have difficulty finding qualified analog engineers?
A10. If yes, what are some of the ways your organization is addressing the shortage?
A11. In your opinion, what are some of the reasons why analog engineers might be getting harder to find?
A12. How many members, including yourself, comprise your current design team: At your location; At other locations within the US; At other locations outside the US?

The responses broke down as follows:

A8. Which of the following markets are the products your company designs sold into? (select all that apply) Responses: 2359 North America

83.7%1975South America

35.0%825Europe

57.3%1352Middle East

28.0%660China

31.9%752Japan

35.3%832Korea

27.3%644Other Asia

30.6%723Other

11.1%263 A9. Some industry data suggest that there is a growing shortage of analog engineers. Does your organization have difficulty finding qualified analog engineers? Responses: 2415 Yes

31.2%734No

68.8%1620 A10. If yes, what are some of the ways your organization is addressing the shortage? Responses: 639 A11. In your opinion, what are some of the reasons why analog engineers might be getting harder to find? (select all that apply) Responses: 2284 Analog engineering hasn't been stressed enough at the university level

50.4%1151Working engineers like to concentrate on other, more "glamorous" digital technologies

51.2%1170Analog is a niche discipline that's outside the engineering mainstream

24.5%560Not enough continuing education available to keep up with analog technologies

28.2%643Other

16.4%375 A12. How many members, including yourself, comprise your current design team:

At your location? Mean: 5.58 Responses: 2379 More than 10

21.4%50810

4.5%1069

1.8%448

4.2%1017

3.8%916

5.9%1415

9.8%2324

10.3%2443

13.2%3142

11.4%2711

13.7%327 At other locations within the US? Mean: 2.63 Responses: 2110 More than 10

16.9%35710

1.5%329

0.3%68

0.9%207

0.5%116

1.2%255

2.0%434

2.1%453

2.8%602

4.7%991

4.5%940

62.5%1318 At other locations outside the US? Mean: 2.51 Responses: 2105 More than 10

16.9%35610

0.8%179

0.2%48

0.7%147

0.5%106

1.2%265

2.2%464

1.8%383

2.8%592

4.4%931

3.8%810

64.7%1361

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section B: Engineering Experience

Questions in this section included:

B1. Approximately how long have you worked in engineering?
B2. >During this time as an engineer, how many different companies have you worked for?
B3. Do you believe that a career path in engineering and the potential for salary advancement is as promising today as it was five years ago?
B4. Why?
B5. Approximately how long have you worked at your present company?
B6. How many job promotions have you achieved at your current place of employment?
B7. Would you recommend engineering as a career path to a young person looking to choose a profession?
B8. Why?
B9. Do you feel that you are being challenged intellectually with the engineering projects you work on at your present job?
B10. What are the professional issues that keep you up at night?
B11a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most important, how would you rate the importance of the following factors in terms of their influence on your job satisfaction? The challenges that accompany the design of new products; Researching potential design solutions; The pressures associated with solving design problems; Working in team situations with peers; Working independently of others; The recognition you get from others for the work you do; The compensation you receive for the work you do; Opportunity to design products that can benefit society.
B11b. Other important factors.
B12a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most pressing, how pressing are each of the following problems in your work? Finding the optimal components for my designs; Having to compromise my design approaches; Insufficient funding for my design projects; Insufficient people resources to get the job done; Inability to adequately test product designs; Lack of design management direction; Seniority issues; Management is taking company in wrong direction; Competitive market pressures; Time-to-market pressures; Shrinking product life cycles; Second sourcing for the components specified; Politics at work.
B12b. Other most pressing.
B13. Which of the following search engines do you use when looking for information related to your work?
B14. What forms of personal technology do you use?

The responses broke down as follows:

B1. Approximately how long have you worked in engineering? Mean: 21.34 Responses: 2232 Less than 1 year

1.2%271-4 years

7.5%1685-9 years

10.7%23910-14 years

10.7%23815-19 years

11.1%24820-24 years

16.8%37525-29 years

17.0%38030-34 years

11.2%25035-39 years

6.5%14540 years or more

7.3%162 B2. During this time as an engineer, how many different companies have you worked for? Mean: 3.55 Responses: 2217 8 or more

8.0%1777

4.1%916

6.2%1375

11.2%2484

14.7%3263

18.6%4132

17.4%3851

19.8%440 B3. Do you believe that a career path in engineering and the potential for salary advancement is as promising today as it was five years ago? Responses: 2217 Yes

47.4%1051No

52.6%1166

Total number of respondents: 2597.

Section B: Engineering Experience

Questions in this section included:

B1. Approximately how long have you worked in engineering?
B2. >During this time as an engineer, how many different companies have you worked for?
B3. Do you believe that a career path in engineering and the potential for salary advancement is as promising today as it was five years ago?
B4. Why?
B5. Approximately how long have you worked at your present company?
B6. How many job promotions have you achieved at your current place of employment?
B7. Would you recommend engineering as a career path to a young person looking to choose a profession?
B8. Why?
B9. Do you feel that you are being challenged intellectually with the engineering projects you work on at your present job?
B10. What are the professional issues that keep you up at night?
B11a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most important, how would you rate the importance of the following factors in terms of their influence on your job satisfaction? The challenges that accompany the design of new products; Researching potential design solutions; The pressures associated with solving design problems; Working in team situations with peers; Working independently of others; The recognition you get from others for the work you do; The compensation you receive for the work you do; Opportunity to design products that can benefit society.
B11b. Other important factors.
B12a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most pressing, how pressing are each of the following problems in your work? Finding the optimal components for my designs; Having to compromise my design approaches; Insufficient funding for my design projects; Insufficient people resources to get the job done; Inability to adequately test product designs; Lack of design management direction; Seniority issues; Management is taking company in wrong direction; Competitive market pressures; Time-to-market pressures; Shrinking product life cycles; Second sourcing for the components specified; Politics at work.
B12b. Other most pressing.
B13. Which of the following search engines do you use when looking for information related to your work?
B14. What forms of personal technology do you use?

The responses broke down as follows:

B4. Why? Responses: 1823 B5. Approximately how long have you worked at your present company? Mean: 9.94 Responses: 2230 Currently unemployed

1.0%23Less than 1 year

7.9%1771-4 years

28.6%6385-9 years

25.4%56710-14 years

12.4%27715-19 years

8.5%18920-24 years

7.1%15925-29 years

5.2%11730-34 years

1.9%4335-39 years

0.9%1940 years or more

0.9%21 B6. How many job promotions have you achieved at your current place of employment? Mean: 2.07 Responses: 2383 8 or more

2.7%517

0.5%106

1.5%295

4.8%914

6.5%1243

11.0%2092

16.7%3171

56.1%1064 B7. Would you recommend engineering as a career path to a young person looking to choose a profession? Responses: 2213 Yes

79.6%1762No

20.4%451 B8. Why? Responses: 1906 B9. Do you feel that you are being challenged intellectually with the engineering projects you work on at your present job? Responses: 2217 Sufficiently challenged

58.1%1287Somewhat challenged

30.9%685Not challenged enough

11.1%245 B10. What are the professional issues that keep you up at night? (select all that apply) Responses: 2216 Specifying the right products/vendors for my designs

18.3%406Product interoperability issues

14.8%328Price/performance issues

23.3%517Product reliability issues

31.9%706Component availability issues

21.6%478Documenting ROI on engineering expenditures

6.4%142Staying current with new and emerging technologies

38.0%842Looming project deadlines

37.1%822Dealing with reductions in staff

18.0%398Concerns about job security

23.3%517Concerns about financial health of suppliers

3.9%87Concerns about financial health of your company

19.7%437Concerns about the general health of the economy

21.5%476Age discrimination

16.1%356Outsourcing issues

22.5%498Nothing keeps me up at night

19.9%440Other

9.2%204 B11a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most important, how would you rate the importance of the following factors in terms of their influence on your job satisfaction?

The challenges that accompany the design of new products Mean: 8.20 Responses: 2183 1

0.8%182

0.6%143

1.1%234

1.3%285

3.9%856

5.8%1277

12.5%2728

25.5%5569

21.7%47310

26.9%587 Researching potential design solutions Mean: 8.01 Responses: 2185 1

0.5%102

0.9%193

1.2%274

1.8%395

5.4%1186

6.2%1357

14.2%3108

25.6%5599

23.1%50510

21.2%463 The pressures associated with solving design problems Mean: 6.36 Responses: 2169 1

3.5%762

3.0%643

5.1%1114

7.2%1575

15.8%3426

14.0%3037

16.6%3608

17.6%3819

10.2%22110

7.1%154 Working in team situations with peers Mean: 6.48 Responses: 2174 1

3.0%652

2.7%593

5.3%1164

5.8%1275

15.5%3366

13.0%2827

18.0%3928

18.2%3959

11.0%24010

7.5%162

Total number of respondents: 2597.

Section B: Engineering Experience

Questions in this section included:

B1. Approximately how long have you worked in engineering?
B2. >During this time as an engineer, how many different companies have you worked for?
B3. Do you believe that a career path in engineering and the potential for salary advancement is as promising today as it was five years ago?
B4. Why?
B5. Approximately how long have you worked at your present company?
B6. How many job promotions have you achieved at your current place of employment?
B7. Would you recommend engineering as a career path to a young person looking to choose a profession?
B8. Why?
B9. Do you feel that you are being challenged intellectually with the engineering projects you work on at your present job?
B10. What are the professional issues that keep you up at night?
B11a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most important, how would you rate the importance of the following factors in terms of their influence on your job satisfaction? The challenges that accompany the design of new products; Researching potential design solutions; The pressures associated with solving design problems; Working in team situations with peers; Working independently of others; The recognition you get from others for the work you do; The compensation you receive for the work you do; Opportunity to design products that can benefit society.
B11b. Other important factors.
B12a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most pressing, how pressing are each of the following problems in your work? Finding the optimal components for my designs; Having to compromise my design approaches; Insufficient funding for my design projects; Insufficient people resources to get the job done; Inability to adequately test product designs; Lack of design management direction; Seniority issues; Management is taking company in wrong direction; Competitive market pressures; Time-to-market pressures; Shrinking product life cycles; Second sourcing for the components specified; Politics at work.
B12b. Other most pressing.
B13. Which of the following search engines do you use when looking for information related to your work?
B14. What forms of personal technology do you use?

The responses broke down as follows:

Working independently of others Mean: 6.42 Responses: 2170 1

3.4%742

2.7%583

5.5%1204

7.0%1525

15.2%3306

13.7%2977

15.7%3408

18.0%3919

11.5%25010

7.3%158 The recognition you get from others for the work you do Mean: 6.94 Responses: 2170 1

2.4%522

2.7%583

4.8%1054

4.7%1035

10.3%2246

12.1%2637

13.0%2828

22.8%4949

15.7%34010

11.5%249 The compensation you receive for the work you do Mean: 7.56 Responses: 2173 1

1.5%322

1.5%333

2.3%494

2.9%645

8.2%1786

9.4%2047

14.6%3188

21.4%4669

19.4%42210

18.7%407 Opportunity to design products that can benefit society Mean: 7.43 Responses: 2172 1

2.6%562

2.7%583

3.1%674

2.9%625

8.4%1836

8.8%1927

13.8%2998

18.1%3939

18.8%40910

20.9%453 B11b. Other important factors. Responses: 368 B12a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most pressing, how pressing are each of the following problems in your work?

Finding the optimal components for my designs Mean: 6.67 Responses: 2147 1

4.3%932

3.3%713

5.2%1124

5.5%1185

10.4%2246

11.7%2517

14.3%3068

22.0%4729

12.9%27610

10.4%224 Having to compromise my design approaches Mean: 6.41 Responses: 2142 1

2.9%632

3.5%753

5.6%1214

6.5%1405

13.9%2986

14.4%3097

17.0%3658

18.3%3919

11.1%23810

6.6%142 Insufficient funding for my design projects Mean: 6.21 Responses: 2150 1

5.8%1242

4.9%1053

7.3%1574

8.5%1835

13.0%2796

10.8%2337

12.7%2728

14.4%3109

11.1%23810

11.6%249 Insufficient people resources to get the job done Mean: 6.83 Responses: 2157 1

3.9%842

3.2%703

5.1%1114

5.6%1215

10.2%2216

10.5%2267

14.1%3048

17.7%3819

15.2%32710

14.5%312 Inability to adequately test product designs Mean: 6.33 Responses: 2143 1

4.1%872

4.2%903

6.1%1314

7.6%1635

13.2%2836

13.6%2917

15.3%3278

15.4%3309

12.0%25710

8.6%184

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section B: Engineering Experience

Questions in this section included:

B1. Approximately how long have you worked in engineering?
B2. >During this time as an engineer, how many different companies have you worked for?
B3. Do you believe that a career path in engineering and the potential for salary advancement is as promising today as it was five years ago?
B4. Why?
B5. Approximately how long have you worked at your present company?
B6. How many job promotions have you achieved at your current place of employment?
B7. Would you recommend engineering as a career path to a young person looking to choose a profession?
B8. Why?
B9. Do you feel that you are being challenged intellectually with the engineering projects you work on at your present job?
B10. What are the professional issues that keep you up at night?
B11a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most important, how would you rate the importance of the following factors in terms of their influence on your job satisfaction? The challenges that accompany the design of new products; Researching potential design solutions; The pressures associated with solving design problems; Working in team situations with peers; Working independently of others; The recognition you get from others for the work you do; The compensation you receive for the work you do; Opportunity to design products that can benefit society.
B11b. Other important factors.
B12a. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being most pressing, how pressing are each of the following problems in your work? Finding the optimal components for my designs; Having to compromise my design approaches; Insufficient funding for my design projects; Insufficient people resources to get the job done; Inability to adequately test product designs; Lack of design management direction; Seniority issues; Management is taking company in wrong direction; Competitive market pressures; Time-to-market pressures; Shrinking product life cycles; Second sourcing for the components specified; Politics at work.
B12b. Other most pressing.
B13. Which of the following search engines do you use when looking for information related to your work?
B14. What forms of personal technology do you use?

The responses broke down as follows:

Lack of design management direction Mean: 5.74 Responses: 2132 1

9.9%2122

6.3%1343

10.4%2214

7.4%1575

12.4%2646

11.1%2377

9.6%2048

12.1%2589

10.6%22510

10.3%220 Seniority issues Mean: 3.96 Responses: 2120 1

24.9%5272

10.6%2243

13.9%2954

9.9%2105

13.5%2866

9.1%1927

7.2%1538

5.4%1149

3.0%6410

2.6%55 Management is taking company in wrong direction Mean: 4.87 Responses: 2130 1

18.5%3952

9.3%1983

12.2%2604

7.7%1655

10.6%2256

9.3%1997

8.8%1888

8.1%1739

6.8%14510

8.5%182 Competitive market pressures Mean: 5.93 Responses: 2132 1

7.8%1662

4.2%903

8.2%1754

7.6%1615

12.7%2706

13.1%2807

15.0%3208

14.9%3189

9.8%21010

6.7%142 Time-to-market pressures Mean: 6.63 Responses: 2135 1

5.5%1172

3.4%733

5.4%1154

5.5%1175

10.5%2246

9.9%2127

14.1%3018

19.7%4219

15.5%33010

10.5%225 Shrinking product life cycles Mean: 5.79 Responses: 2120 1

7.8%1652

5.6%1183

8.3%1764

8.9%1895

13.2%2796

12.9%2737

12.8%2728

15.1%3209

8.9%18910

6.6%139 Second sourcing for the components specified Mean: 5.16 Responses: 2112 1

10.9%2302

9.4%1983

9.5%2004

9.8%2065

14.1%2986

12.8%2717

11.6%2468

11.3%2399

6.7%14110

3.9%83 Politics at work Mean: 5.23 Responses: 2146 1

15.8%3392

9.1%1953

9.8%2104

7.9%1695

11.0%2356

9.0%1947

8.4%1818

10.8%2319

8.3%17910

9.9%213 B12b. Other most pressing. Responses: 200 B13. Which of the following search engines do you use when looking for information related to your work? (select all that apply) Responses: 2209 AltaVista

10.4%229AOL

2.8%62Ask

7.2%158GlobalSpec

18.5%409Google

95.9%2119Lycos

4.2%93MSN

12.9%284Teoma

0.7%16Yahoo

39.7%876Other

8.6%189 B14. What forms of personal technology do you use? (select all that apply) Responses: 1894 PDA (Blackberry, Palm, etc.)

33.3%631Smart phone

19.9%377Portable digital music player (iPod, etc.)

32.6%617Laptop

89.2%1689

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section C: Employment Outlook/Outsourcing

Questions in this section included:

C1. To the best of your knowledge, what is the engineering employment outlook at your company in the coming year?
C2. Do you feel that your organization is more focused on employee retention this year as compared to a year ago?
C3. Why?
C4. How would you rate your present job security?
C5. Has a headhunter or recruiter contacted you regarding a job with another company in the past 12 months?
C6. If yes, how many times?
C7. What situations would most likely motivate you to consider accepting another job today?
C8. What is your status regarding new employment?
C9. Does your company outsource engineering work?
C10. Where is this work being outsourced?
C11. What types of engineering work is your company outsourcing?
C12. Does your company plan to outsource engineering work in the future?
C13. Where will these jobs be outsourced?
C14. What types of engineering work will your company outsource?
C15. Who gets involved in making the decision whether or not to outsource engineering work at your company?
C16. What impact do you feel the current trend toward outsourcing is having on engineering professionals?
C17. How concerned are you with the prospect of losing your job to outsourcing?
C18. What is your personal view of outsourcing? How is it affecting the engineering profession, your company, etc?

The responses broke down as follows:

C1. Approximately how long have you worked in engineering? Responses: 2140 My company plans to increase the number of engineering jobs

39.5%845My company plans to maintain the current level of engineering jobs

51.4%1099My company plans to scale back engineering staff

9.2%196 C2. Do you feel that your organization is more focused on employee retention this year as compared to a year ago? Responses: 2113 Yes

39.5%834No

60.5%1279 C3. Why? Responses: 1422 C4. How would you rate your present job security? Responses: 2145 I feel strongly secure

39.6%850I feel somewhat secure

49.6%1063I feel insecure

10.8%232 C5. Has a headhunter or recruiter contacted you regarding a job with another company in the past 12 months? Responses: 2141 Yes

49.5%1060No

50.5%1081 C6. If yes, how many times? Mean: 2.96 Responses: 1062 1

16.2%1722

30.8%3273

19.4%2064

8.4%895 or more

25.2%268 C7. What situations would most likely motivate you to consider accepting another job today? (select all that apply) Responses: 2066 Higher compensation

71.1%1468More responsibility

23.1%478More interesting work

59.0%1218Stock options

26.2%541More dynamic company

26.5%547Personal/family needs not currently being met

21.7%448Desire to join a startup company

12.2%253More job stability

26.5%548Move to a different geographical area

19.3%398Don't like present company's management/culture

18.1%373Seeking less stress

16.7%345Seeking more personal fulfillment

29.8%616Fear of being laid off from present job

13.0%268Current job requirements no longer match my skills or interests

13.5%279Other

9.4%194 C8. What is your status regarding new employment? Responses: 2137 Actively seeking a new position

8.9%191Not actively seeking, but would follow-up if I read or heard about an interesting opportunity

32.2%689Not actively seeking, but would follow-up only if personally approached with an interesting opportunity

33.9%724Cannot envision changing jobs in the foreseeable future

24.9%533 C9. Does your company outsource engineering work? Responses: 2132 Yes

57.4%1224No

42.6%908 C10. Where is this work being outsourced? (select all that apply) Responses: 1208 Other locations in the U.S.

59.8%722Canada

9.0%109Mexico

7.5%91South America

3.2%39Europe

17.9%216Pacific Rim

12.6%152China

25.9%313India

30.8%372Other

7.0%84 C11. What types of engineering work is your company outsourcing? (select all that apply) Responses: 1216 R&D

28.6%348Software development

53.5%650Incoming inspection

4.8%58Design

55.8%678Manufacturing/assembly

62.4%759Final test

24.1%293Other

7.2%87 C12. Does your company plan to outsource engineering work in the future? Responses: 907 Yes

10.4%94No

89.6%813 C13. Where will these jobs be outsourced? (select all that apply) Responses: 91 Other locations in the U.S.

47.3%43Canada

7.7%7Mexico

6.6%6South America

6.6%6Europe

19.8%18Pacific Rim

11.0%10China

24.2%22India

35.2%32Other

5.5%5 C14. What types of engineering work will your company outsource? (select all that apply) Responses: 89 R&D

24.7%22Software development

42.7%38Incoming inspection

7.9%7Design

36.0%32Manufacturing/assembly

56.2%50Final test

21.3%19Other

6.7%6 C15. Who gets involved in making the decision whether or not to outsource engineering work at your company? (select all that apply) Responses: 2006 President/chairman/CEO

50.7%1017Board of directors

17.5%351CFO/other financial management

17.5%351Other corporate management

30.4%609Senior engineering management

47.4%950Engineering management

30.2%606Engineering

14.2%285Purchasing

8.8%177Outside consultant

2.6%52Other

7.2%145 C16. What impact do you feel the current trend toward outsourcing is having on engineering professionals? (select all that apply) Responses: 1997 Few engineering jobs available

51.2%1022New hires at reduced salaries

39.9%797New hires to support outsourcing efforts

14.6%291Salary reductions for employees

25.4%508Fewer opportunities for advancement

39.5%788Lower employee morale

47.6%951Skills valued more

12.6%252Skills valued less

36.1%720Opportunity to work on more innovative projects as menial tasks are moved out of organization

21.5%429It's an important aspect to global business growth

21.2%424Other

8.7%173 C17. How concerned are you with the prospect of losing your job to outsourcing? Responses: 2061 Very concerned

5.4%111Somewhat concerned

20.8%428Not very concerned

36.4%751Not at all concerned

37.4%771 C18. What is your personal view of outsourcing? How is it affecting the engineering profession, your company, etc? Responses: 1548

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section D: About Your Company

Questions in this section included:

D1. What state do you work in?
D2. What is the primary end product or service performed at your location?
D3. Approximately how many people work in your entire organization?
D4. What is the approximate gross annual revenue of your organization?

The responses broke down as follows:

D1. What state do you work in? Responses: 1710 Alabama

1.3%23Alaska

0.2%4Arizona

2.9%50Arkansas

0.6%10California

16.3%279Colorado

2.7%47Connecticut

1.6%28District of Columbia

0.6%10Delaware

0.5%8Florida

4.3%74Georgia

1.4%24Hawaii

0.1%2Idaho

0.8%13Illinois

3.7%63Indiana

1.8%31Iowa

0.9%16Kansas

0.4%7Kentucky

0.6%11Louisiana

0.3%5Maine

0.2%4Maryland

2.0%35Massachusetts

5.0%86Michigan

4.2%72Minnesota

3.0%52Mississippi

0.2%4Missouri

1.1%18Montana

0.4%7North Carolina

1.9%32North Dakota

0.2%4Nebraska

0.3%5New Hampshire

0.8%14New Jersey

3.0%51New Mexico

1.1%19Nevada

1.1%18New York

3.6%68Ohio

2.7%47Oklahoma

0.8%14Oregon

2.0%34Pennsylvania

3.6%61Puerto Rico

0.2%4Rhode Island

0.4%6South Carolina

0.6%11South Dakota

0.3%5Tennessee

0.9%16Texas

7.2%123Utah

1.8%31Vermont

0.2%3Virginia

2.6%45Washington

3.5%60West Virginia

0.2%3Wisconsin

2.6%44Wyoming

0.5%9 D2. What is the primary end product or service performed at your location? (select one) Responses: 2031 Computer systems/boards/peripherals/software

7.2%146Communications systems/equipment

11.1%226Industrial controls systems/equipment

14.3%291Test and measurement equipment

6.8%139Medical electronics

6.2%125Consumer electronics

6.3%127Automotive electronics

4.1%84Avionics/marine/space

6.4%130Contract manufacturer

1.2%25Government/military

10.8%219Components and subassemblies

2.1%43ICs and semiconductors

7.1%145Other

16.3%331 D3. Approximately how many people work in your entire organization? Mean: 8545.67 Responses: 2074 50,000 or more

9.5%19725,000-49,999

4.4%9210,000-24,999

6.3%1315000-9999

6.5%1351000-4999

14.6%302500-999

6.9%144250-499

6.9%131100-249

8.6%17950-99

6.9%14325-49

6.7%1381-24

23.2%482 D4. What is the approximate gross annual revenue of your organization? Mean: 1,966,605,701.31 Responses: 1982 $10 billion or more

11.6%230$5 billion - $9.9 billion

4.9%97$1 billion - $4.9 billion

11.7%231$500 million - $999.9 million

6.2%123$100 million - $499.9 million

10.9%217$50 million - $99.9 million

6.0%119$25 million - $49.9 million

5.8%114$10 million - $24.9 million

8.7%173$5 million - $9 million

7.0%138Less than $5 million

27.2%540

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section E: About You Personally

Questions in this section included:

E1. What is your approximate age?
E2. What is your gender?
E3. What is your current marital status?
E4. What is your principal race?
E5. Where were you born?
E6. Which one of the following best describes your highest level of education?
E7. What are some of the ways you continue your engineering education today?
E8. What are your favorite work-related Web sites?
E9. What do you expect your total compensation to be in 2006? Base salary; Bonuses; Stock &/or stock options; Other sources.
E10. How will your total 2006 compensation (salary, bonuses, etc.) compare to what you earned in 2005?
E11. Of the bonuses and other direct cash payments over and above base salary that you receive, please specify the primary reason(s) for them.
E12. Please specify the type(s) of non-cash and indirect cash rewards you expect to receive during the next 12 months.
E13. Do you feel your company adequately compensates you for the work you do?
E14. If no, approximately what percentage increase in pay do you feel would bring you to a fair compensation level for the job you do?
E15. Generally speaking, in what ways have compensation policies and procedures changed for engineers at your organization during the past year? Are you being asked to shoulder more of the responsibility for the costs of benefits (i.e., health insurance)? How have incentive programs changed? Are these new methods of compensation temporary, or permanent?

The responses broke down as follows:

E1. What is your approximate age? Mean: 46.51 Responses: 2040 Under 20

0.2%420-24

1.9%3925-29

6.1%12430-34

6.5%13235-39

9.7%19740-44

14.2%28945-49

18.1%36950-54

17.3%35255-59

12.3%25060 or older

13.9%284 E2. What is your gender? Responses: 2033 Male

97.2%1976Female

2.8%57 E3. What is your current marital status? Responses: 2027 Single, never married

14.8%300Single, divorced or widowed

6.8%138Separated from spouse

1.1%22Married

77.3%1567 E4. What is your principal race? Responses: 2013 White

81.5%1641Hispanic or Latino

3.1%62Black or African American

1.7%34American Indian or Alaska native

0.4%9Asian

10.4%210Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

0.1%2Some other race

0.9%19A mix of different races

1.8%36 E5. Where were you born? Responses: 2029 United States

69.2%1404Canada

3.6%73Mexico

0.9%19Central/South America

2.0%40Middle East

1.2%24Asia/Pacific

11.1%225Europe

11.0%224Africa

1.0%20 E6. Which one of the following best describes your highest level of education? Responses: 2029 High school or less

0.9%18Attended college

7.9%161Associates degree

7.9%162Bachelors degree

29.1%594Bachelors plus graduate studies

19.0%387Masters degree

27.6%564Doctoral degree

7.5%154 E7. What are some of the ways you continue your engineering education today? (select all that apply) Responses: 2029 In-classroom college courses

15.0%305Online college courses

13.0%264Seminars

63.1%1279Webinars (online seminars)

45.3%918User group meetings

18.4%373Engineering association sponsored meetings

25.2%511White papers

54.5%1105Vendor-sponsored education (seminars, Webcasts, etc.)

43.6%883Trade show/conferences

48.0%972Engineering text books

62.2%1261E-books (online textbook downloads)

29.6%601In-house educational programs sponsored by your company

26.4%536Online chat rooms (blogs, engineering chat areas, etc.)

9.4%190Engineering/technology publications

83.5%1693Other

6.7%135 E8. What are your favorite work-related Web sites? Responses: 1001 E9. What is the approximate gross annual revenue of your organization?

Base salary Mean: 87,394.94 Responses: 1856 $300,000 or more

1.0%19$250,000 - $299,000

0.3%5$200,000 - $249,000

0.6%12$150,000 - $199,000

3.2%60$125,000 - $149,999

7.1%132$100,000 - $124,999

18.6%345$90,000 - $99,999

9.3%173$80,000 - $89,999

11.2%207$70,000 - $79,999

12.1%224$60,000 - $69,999

9.4%175$50,000 - $59,999

8.6%159$40,000 - $49,999

5.9%110$30,000 - $39,999

5.0%93Under $30,000

7.7%142 Bonuses Mean: 3624.68 Responses: 1540 $10,000 or more

15.5%238$9000

1.3%20$8000

2.7%42$7000

2.5%38$6000

2.5%38$5000

8.1%124$4000

4.2%65$3000

6.1%94$2000

9.7%149$1000 or less

47.5%732

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section E: About You Personally

Questions in this section included:

E1. What is your approximate age?
E2. What is your gender?
E3. What is your current marital status?
E4. What is your principal race?
E5. Where were you born?
E6. Which one of the following best describes your highest level of education?
E7. What are some of the ways you continue your engineering education today?
E8. What are your favorite work-related Web sites?
E9. What do you expect your total compensation to be in 2006? Base salary; Bonuses; Stock &/or stock options; Other sources.
E10. How will your total 2006 compensation (salary, bonuses, etc.) compare to what you earned in 2005?
E11. Of the bonuses and other direct cash payments over and above base salary that you receive, please specify the primary reason(s) for them.
E12. Please specify the type(s) of non-cash and indirect cash rewards you expect to receive during the next 12 months.
E13. Do you feel your company adequately compensates you for the work you do?
E14. If no, approximately what percentage increase in pay do you feel would bring you to a fair compensation level for the job you do?
E15. Generally speaking, in what ways have compensation policies and procedures changed for engineers at your organization during the past year? Are you being asked to shoulder more of the responsibility for the costs of benefits (i.e., health insurance)? How have incentive programs changed? Are these new methods of compensation temporary, or permanent?

The responses broke down as follows:

Stock &/or stock options Mean: 2502.58 Responses: 1164 $10,000 or more

10.1%117$9000

0.6%7$8000

1.6%19$7000

0.7%8$6000

0.6%7$5000

5.2%61$4000

2.3%27$3000

2.6%30$2000

3.4%39$1000 or less

72.9%849 Other sources Mean: 2796.84 Responses: 886 $10,000 or more

13.2%117$9000

0.9%8$8000

1.4%12$7000

0.7%6$6000

0.9%8$5000

5.2%46$4000

1.6%14$3000

2.5%22$2000

5.1%45$1000 or less

68.6%608 E10. How will your total 2006 compensation (salary, bonuses, etc.) compare to what you earned in 2005? Mean: 3.00 Responses: 1886 Increase by 10% or more

15.2%287Increase by 9%

0.6%11Increase by 8%

1.9%35Increase by 7%

1.9%35Increase by 6%

2.6%49Increase by 5%

10.6%199Increase by 4%

8.9%168Increase by 3%

15.6%295Increase by 2%

9.2%173Increase by 1%

3.6%68Remain the same

21.7%409Decrease by 1%

0.5%9Decrease by 2%

1.0%18Decrease by 3%

0.5%9Decrease by 4%

0.7%13Decrease by 5%

0.8%15Decrease by 6%

0.3%6Decrease by 7%

0.2%3Decrease by 8%

0.0%0Decrease by 9%

0.2%4Decrease by 10% or more

4.2%80 E11. Of the bonuses and other direct cash payments over and above base salary that you receive, please specify the primary reason(s) for them. (select all that apply) Responses: 1573 Personal performance

55.4%871Performance of company or division

51.4%809Patent awards

12.7%200Project milestone completion

10.3%162Certification/training

4.6%73Company profit sharing

27.0%425Signing bonus

1.9%30Retention bonus

4.5%71Other

11.7%184 E12. Please specify the type(s) of non-cash and indirect cash rewards you expect to receive during the next 12 months. (select all that apply) Responses: 1646 Stock options

20.8%342401(k) match

54.3%893Day care or day care subsidy

1.8%30Sabbatical/extended vacation

3.2%52Stock purchase plan

18.4%303Health benefits

61.9%1019Further education/training

25.0%412Company car or car allowance

8.4%138Tuition reimbursement

17.9%294Company-paid phone/fax/cable modem/DSL lines

14.5%238Certification reimbursement

4.5%74Health club membership

7.7%127Pension plan

23.5%386Professional organization dues

16.5%272Time off

38.8%638Other

5.1%84 E13. Do you feel your company adequately compensates you for the work you do? Responses: 1972 Yes

60.5%1193No

39.5%779 E14. If no, approximately what percentage increase in pay do you feel would bring you to a fair compensation level for the job you do? Mean: 20.38 Responses: 875 1% - 5%

5.9%526% - 10%

20.0%17511% - 15%

18.7%16416% - 20%

18.3%16021% - 25%

13.1%11526% - 30%

5.8%5131% - 35%

2.1%1836% - 40%

2.5%2241% - 45%

1.1%1046% - 50%

3.8%33More than 50%

8.6%75 E15. Generally speaking, in what ways have compensation policies and procedures changed for engineers at your organization during the past year? Are you being asked to shoulder more of the responsibility for the costs of benefits (i.e., health insurance)? How have incentive programs changed? Are these new methods of compensation temporary, or permanent? Responses: 1244

Total number of respondents: 2597.

Section F-H: Views On Immigration

Questions in this section included:

F1. Are you a U.S. citizen?
G1. Do you have H-1B visa status?
G2. In what country did you receive your education?
G3. How long have you been working in the U.S.?
G4. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status?
G5. Are you continuing your education while here in the U.S.?
G6. Which of the following best describes your plans for the future?
G7. Generally speaking, was your coming to the U.S. a good career decision?
G8. Why?
H1. Does your company hire engineers with H-1B status?
H2. Do you believe that H-1B visa holders are sometimes hired at your company ahead of other engineers?
H3. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status?
H4. Have you ever lost out on a job opportunity or felt that your job was threatened by someone with H-1B status?
H5. Do you think the government should more tightly restrict the number of H-1B slots for engineering positions?
H6. Given the opportunity, how would you change guest worker policies or legislation in the U.S.?

The responses broke down as follows:

F1. Are you a U.S. citizen? Responses: 2048 Yes

75.8%1552No

24.2%496 G1. Do you have H-1B visa status? Responses: 429 Yes

10.3%44No

89.7%385 G2. In what country did you receive your education? Responses: 407 G3. How long have you been working in the U.S.? Mean: 4.29 Responses: 179 10 years or more

15.6%289 years

5.0%98 years

5.6%107 years

3.9%76 years

8.9%165 years

3.9%74 years

3.4%63 years

3.9%72 years

7.3%131 year or less

42.5%76 G4. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status? (select all that apply) Responses: 203 To save money

30.0%61Can't find engineers who are qualified for the open positions

35.0%71They are more qualified than other engineers applying for the job

26.6%54For cultural insights into designing products for overseas markets

11.3%23Other

27.1%55 G5. Are you continuing your education while here in the U.S.? Responses: 260 Yes

24.6%64No

75.4%196 G6. Which of the following best describes your plans for the future? Responses: 245 Return to my home country

29.4%72Become a U.S. citizen

32.7%80Other

38.0%93 G7. Generally speaking, was your coming to the U.S. a good career decision? Responses: 218 Yes

68.3%149No

31.7%69 G8. Why? Responses: 184 H1. Does your company hire engineers with H-1B status? Responses: 1464 Yes

45.4%665No

54.6%799 H2. Do you believe that H-1B visa holders are sometimes hired at your company ahead of other engineers? Responses: 1381 Yes

18.8%260No

81.2%1121 H3. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status? (select all that apply) Responses: 866 To save money

38.2%331Can't find engineers who are qualified for the open positions

37.3%323They are more qualified than other engineers applying for the job

19.1%165For cultural insights into designing products for overseas markets

11.7%101Other

20.1%174 H4. Have you ever lost out on a job opportunity or felt that your job was threatened by someone with H-1B status? Responses: 1432 Felt threatened

6.0%86Lost a job

4.1%59Neither

89.9%1287 H5. Do you think the government should more tightly restrict the number of H-1B slots for engineering positions? Responses: 1418 Yes

56.8%806No

43.2%612 H6. Given the opportunity, how would change guest worker policies or legislation in the U.S.? Responses: 887

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section I: R&D Trends

Questions in this section included:

I1. Does your organization receive government funding for research and development?
I2. In what technology areas do you believe the government should be increasing its R&D investments?
I3. In what other ways do you believe the government should be investing in R&D?
I4. Does your organization participate in university R&D projects?

The responses broke down as follows:

I1. Does your organization receive government funding for research and development? Responses: 1925 Yes

34.1%657No

65.9%1268 I2. In what technology areas do you believe the government should be increasing its R&D investments? (select all that apply) Responses: 1867 Alternative power

82.6%1543Homeland Security

36.9%689GIS/GPS location-aware computing

13.5%252Nanotechnology

46.8%873Telemedicine

22.3%416Broadband infrastructure

30.6%571Bio-computing

22.4%419Supercomputing

18.3%342Robotics

31.3%585Other

12.6%235 I3. In what other ways do you believe the government should be investing in R&D? Responses: 760 I4. Does your organization participate in university R&D projects? Responses: 1901 Yes

44.0%836No

56.0%1065