Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Strawderman, Lesley

Committee Member

Johnson, Jenna

Committee Member

Smith, Brian

Committee Member

Vancil-Leap, Ashley

Date of Degree

8-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Engineering Education

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Abstract

This dissertation investigated attrition rates of engineers in the industry. It used historical data to examine trends of attrition based on gender and time. It found that both gender and time were statistically significant in predicting whether an engineer would be working in the industry or not. Males with an engineering degree were 5.2 times more likely to work in the engineering industry than females with an engineering degree. Additionally, as engineers progress through the profession, they tend to leave it altogether more often than staying in the profession for their entire careers. Pivotal points where engineers leave the industry include 7 years post-graduation and 30 years post-graduation. The second study investigated the attrition rates further by looking at engineering disciplines. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer/Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Other Engineering experienced the same statistically significant predictors of gender and time on whether an engineer with a degree in these individual fields would be working within the engineering industry. The third study examined the reasons why engineers left the industry, using qualitative analysis of interview data. Individual interviews gave insight into why engineers left the industry and what would have helped them stay in it. Trends were identified based on gender and time in the industry. Males left the profession primarily due to the career category, which included pay, promotion, job satisfaction, and interest. Females left the profession primarily due to the work environment, including work culture, managers, coworkers, and flexibility. The categories that had the highest frequency across all interviews included work culture, interest, work life balance, and promotions.

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