Mechanical engineer jobs on the rise in five major cities

In February 2012, recruiters posted approximately 9,000 online ads for mechanical engineers - up 20 percent from a year ago, according to WANTED Analytics™.

Hiring demand for engineers to design and build engines, machines and other equipment is reaching numbers not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis. The volume of job ads increased 10 percent on a year-on-year basis from February 2011, 87 percent compared to 2010 and over 65 percent from 2009.

Mechanical engineers are in highest demand in the cities of Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, with many area manufacturers looking for candidates that can benefit design and build electric and hybrid vehicle components.

Ford Motor Co. plans to double the number of engineers and technicians it allocates to developing automobiles with better fuel economy. The company intends on adding more than 12,000 hourly and salaried jobs by 2015 in the U.S., giving job seekers trained as mechanical engineers more opportunity to grow professionally.

With many Americans eager to switch to more cost-effective and sustainable vehicles, the demand for innovative vehicles may immensely impact job growth.