ACEC Research Institute Senior Researcher Joe Bates Discusses the Engineering Workforce Shortage

Joe Bates, Senior Researcher at the ACEC Research Institute, sits down with WSVA-AM/FM Harrisonburg, VA Radio Station to discuss the engineering shortage that the U.S. faces.

In 2022 about 184,000 engineers retired or left while only 166,000 new engineers entered the workforce, creating an 18,000‑person shortfall.

The radio interview covers causes (retirements, career changes, and restrictive H‑1B visa caps that block many international graduates from staying), the economic impact on projects and companies, and solutions like boosting recruitment in K–12, updating university programs (including AI skills), and policy changes to retain trained international engineers.