Careers: The latest manpower forecasts show EEs' prospects improving: But supply/demand statistics vary with the source and efforts are underway to sort out the confusion

According to the latest forecast of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering manpower needs in the U.S. will rise from the estimated 1.1 million persons employed in engineering occupations in 1972 to 1.5 million by 1985. The same projection suggests that there will be an average of 53 000 annual openings through the next decade, not including transfers out of the occupation, — which would raise the number to 73 500.