AS READILY AS James Kwan, president of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, plugs his profession, he is the first to admit that engineers, just like the rest of Hong Kong, are going through a rough patch.
'These have not been the best of times for Hong Kong engineers,' he said. 'There's less construction, fewer government projects and private sector construction is not as aggressive as before.'
But he remains optimistic, and said he would continue to recommend an engineering degree to students inclined towards scientific and technical subjects.
'We're still very active in convincing Hong Kong youths to take up engineering, so there will be a continuous stream of talent in the sector,' he said
Engineering graduates would do well, however, to look north for employment opportunities, he said.
While there will always be work in Hong Kong, there are better opportunities for career advancement in the mainland, where growth promises to remain exponential for some time.