Pa. L&I grant addresses engineer shortage

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has awarded a grant to promote licensure and address the engineer shortage faced by the commonwealth.

The Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation (PEF), the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) and Wanner Associates, Inc. have been awarded an Industry Partnership Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

According to a release, the grant will fund an initiative to promote awareness of the importance of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam among engineering students and encourage them to take the exam before graduation.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the PA Department of Labor & Industry,” Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation Jennifer Summers said in a statement. “This funding will allow us to make a real difference in addressing the critical shortage of licensed engineers in the commonwealth. By encouraging engineering students to take the FE Exam before graduation, we can help ensure a smooth transition into the workforce and accelerate their path to becoming licensed Professional Engineers.”

The grant wis aimed at enabling PEF and PSPE to develop and implement a multi-faceted campaign that includes the following:

• Awareness outreach programs for engineering students and faculty at Pennsylvania universities.



• Video sessions, college engineering seniors will get first-hand advice on the FE exam and career paths through one-on-one interviews and a roundtable discussion with experienced licensed professional engineers.



• A subsidy program to help defray the cost of study materials and taking the FE Exam.



• Development of online resources specifically tailored to Pennsylvania engineering students.

The grant program is part of L&I’s efforts to address workforce shortages in key industries, per a release. As Pennsylvania faces a growing demand for licensed engineers across various sectors, this initiative is designed to encourage a new generation of engineers to pursue licensure and contribute their skills to the state’s economy.

“This initiative aligns perfectly with PSPE’s mission to support and promote the engineering profession in Pennsylvania,” said Summers. “By working together with PSPE and the PA Department of Labor & Industry, we can ensure a strong and qualified engineering workforce for the future of the commonwealth.”

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