There's a big demand for professional engineers in the U.S. at the moment. According to the Boston Consulting Group, one in three new roles in the engineering sector remain unfilled each year. And America isn't the only country experiencing a shortage of engineering talent.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy has reportedly predicted that there will be a shortage of 3,000 professional engineers by 2030. Similarly, Germany has shared that it has a deficit of 320,000 STEM specialists as of April 2022. Truly, the world needs more engineers, just perhaps not the kind you'll see on this list.
We might not realize it, but many of us used to engage in engineering when we were kids. Whether it's building Legos, making paper airplanes, or assembling ramps, there's probably that engineer's streak in most of us. Experts claim that building and designing such simple constructions helps children's cognitive abilities.
These are the benefits they point out most often:
- that's how kids learn to problem-solve;
- it fosters creativity;
- it enhances motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination;
- it teaches kids critical thinking;
- it helps them practice communication;
- and it prepares them for possible future careers.
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But even when we grow up, engineering can be fun. And we don't even have to become professionals to engage in some DIY engineering. Blogger Siddharth Kothari, although an educated professional engineer now, started off by watching tutorials online. In a blog post, he recounts how engineering for him began as a hobby, building guitar effect pedals.
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With the help of YouTube, Facebook groups, and salvaging broken electronics from his dad's office and the local electronics store, Kothari soon put together his first "dark sensor" circuit at 15. Later, he would make guitar amplifiers from any drillable boxes he could find at home—even a Sprite can. This just goes to show that where there's a will, there's a way!
When we think of DIY as a hobby, crafting often comes to mind. But DIY engineering is just as legitimate and as real a hobby as knitting or painting. Some people build bicycles. If you're a real gearhead, this might be just the thing for you. A custom-built bicycle will have a saddle that fits you right away, cranks that are the right length, and bars of the perfect shape and width.
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Toy building is another type of DIY engineering. This can even include original board games! There are even people who DIY their kids' toy cars. All they need is a 3D printer, metal axles, and toy wheels. If making a fancier toy car, others add recordable sound chips, LEDs, and sound boxes. With a little help from the Internet, you can make almost anything!
