The need for infrastructural development is always stable. Thanks to the ever-growing population and the improvement of the standard of living all around the world, there is a constant demand for infrastructure in the developing countries and a strong need for existing infrastructure to be replaced or repaired in the developed countries. Now combine this with the expected shift to renewable energy sources, there is a continual increase in the number of potential projects for civil engineers all over the world.
The future of civil engineering in India
In India, the construction industry comprises of the urban development segment and real estate in general. The urban development segment includes urban transport, water supply, healthcare, sanitation, and schools. Whereas, the real estate segment encapsulates office, residential, hotels, shopping malls, leisure parks, and retail, amongst others.
The growing middle class is creating a demand for better roads and more airports for easy and quick transportation, more power grids to light even the most remote rural regions, and modern office buildings and infrastructure to support the continued growth of the global economy created by the rise of online and e-commerce trade. Add to this the rapid advancements in software, solutions, and technology; we have got a civil engineering sector that is poised for a vibrant future ahead.
Achievements of civil engineering in modern India
Forty years back, who would have imagined that the distance between Worli and Bandra could be covered in just 10 minutes?! The Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) built in the Arabian Sea made this possible by lessening the commute time from 20-30 minutes to just 10 minutes. This cable-stayed bridge is an engineering marvel accomplished by the civil engineers in India.
Then we have Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel in Jammu Kashmir, Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, Panval Nadi Viaduct in Ratnagiri, and I-Flex Solutions in Bangalore that are a landmark achievements of modern engineering. And these are just a few examples of the rapid development of modern urbanised India as the country is bound to witness many more such ambitious civil engineering projects in the future.
The demand for civil engineering
Now let’s take a look at some of the statistics.
According to a joint report by the real estate body NAREDCO and KPMG, India’s real estate and construction sector are projected to be the 3rd largest globally by 2030. This sector is also projected to turn into the largest employer in India by 2022, offering job opportunities to more than 75 million people. According to the report, as India’s urban population is expected to rise to more than 580 million by 2030, there would be a requirement of almost 110 million houses by 2022 alone in both rural as well as urban India to ensure all citizens have houses.
Another report published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors titled “Real Estate and Construction Professionals in India by 2020” predicts that the demand in the real estate and construction industry is 95 billion sq.ft by 2020. Also, the report states that there is a demand-supply gap of skilled civil engineers and architects ranging between 82% and 86%. This simply means India needs 4 million proficient civil engineers, as the residential needs of almost 120 million people in the urban regions must be fulfilled.
These statistics clearly illustrate the fact that there is a huge demand for civil engineers in the future in India.
The future of civil engineering globally
Now let’s look at some global statistics.
Grand View Research(GVR), Inc’s latest report says that the global civil engineering market size, by 2025, is expected to be valued at a whopping 12.08 trillion US dollars. GVR also discovered that the growing residential sector in upcoming economies of Asia Pacific, specifically by India and China’s boom in the real estate sectors, is going to drive the market. Plus, the report also states that in 2019 the global civil engineering market size was estimated at 8.73 trillion US dollars and is projected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027. According to the latest report by Million Insights, the market size of Europe civil engineering is expected to be 2,412.9 billion US dollars by 2025.
All these statistics promise a bright future for civil engineers in India as well across the world. Also, civil engineering is globally ranked as one of the safest, in-demand engineering jobs for the future by Entech, one of the world’s leading specialist engineering recruitment agencies.
Career prospects after civil engineering
As a Civil Engineer, you can pursue a career in various fields such as:
- Building control surveyor
- Consulting civil engineer
- CAD technician
- Contracting civil engineer
- Site Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Water Resource Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Rural & Urban Transport Engineer
- Geo Technical Engineer
You can find job opportunities in both public and private sectors. Some of the top public sector companies that hire civil engineers include:
– Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
– Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
– Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
– Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
– Indian Oil Corporation(IOCL)
– National Thermal Power Corporation Limited(NTPC)
– Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC)
– Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL)
Some of the top private sector companies that hire civil engineers include:
– DLF
– Expert Technology
– Godrej Properties
– Hiranandani Construction Pvt. Ltd
– Hindustan Construction Company(HCC)
– IVRCL Infrastructure & Projects Ltd
– Larsen and Toubro
– Oberoi Reality
– Prestige Estates
Salary:
The average salary for civil engineering graduate in India ranges from 2.8 – 3.2 lakh per annum. As you become more experienced, you can earn up 20+ lakh per annum.
However, in foreign countries like USA, Canada, and UK, you can get a starting salary of $60,000/annum and earn more than $100,000/annum as you gain experience.
Civil engineering is future proof
Civil engineering is touted as the “Mother of all engineering” for a reason.
Because it existed long before any of the other contemporary engineering
disciplines came into existence. Besides, civil engineering is one of the evergreen fields. As long as humans exist, the demand for building roads, houses, transportation, sewerage, canals, bridges, and dams are going to be there. Therefore, you can be rest assured that civil engineers are never going to be jobless be it in the present or in the future.
What is the need of the hour, however, is that you must become proficient in this field by studying civil engineering in a reputed institution like SRM University, familiarise yourself with the latest technology and construction trends, and be future ready.
