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Japan "Running Out of Engineers"

bfwebster writes "A story in the New York Times reports that Japan, a country that rebuilt itself as a technological power after World War II, now faces an increasing shortage of college graduates with degrees in science and engineering. Says the article: 'By one ministry of internal affairs estimate, the digital technology industry here is already short almost half a million engineers.' The article goes on to point out that the overall trend of waning interest in science and technology has been going on for 'almost two decades' and that the shortage is made worse by the traditional reluctance of Japanese companies to hire and use foreign workers. The US has had a similar trend for quite some time: 'Undergraduate engineering enrollment declined through most of the 1980s and 1990s, rose from 2000 through 2003, and declined slightly in recent years.'"

10 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. I think I'm turning Japanese by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 5, Funny

    Considering the overlap between techies and otaku is something like 4200%, I fear for the future of US-Japan relations after the first big wave of American emigration hits their shores.

  2. Re:It's probably not waning interest in engineerin by Capt+James+McCarthy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Joe, is that you? I need you to come to my office and give a presentation on how many 'engines' you've been 'ering.' The Mid-Level Lower-Sector Managers would like it to be at least 30 slides and I want to ensure that you can re-write it by tomorrow.

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    There are no loopholes. It's either legal or it's not.
  3. Re:"Manager" is a title, not a profession by lewp · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't know of any undergraduate course called "management".

    Georgia Tech has a "Management" major. It's where all the folks who couldn't cut it in their engineering programs wind up.

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    Game... blouses.
  4. Only on Slashdot... by ScreamingCactus · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...does a story about an engineer shortage in Japan turn into an argument about the definition of censorship in the first post!

    --
    The path to enlightenment is truly through homemade drugs!
  5. Re:Can't fight demographics... by Martian_Kyo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe I should go to Japan, I am an engineer and I could help with the dropping birthrates.

  6. Re:It's probably not waning interest in engineerin by Smidge204 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't know about you, but I went into Engineering for the chicks.

    I consider it a long-term investment.
    =Smidge=

    (...any day now...)

  7. Re:It's probably not waning interest in engineerin by craagz · · Score: 5, Funny

    No they are not. You can buy an engineering degree for ~$1000 in India.

  8. Re:It's probably not waning interest in engineerin by dattaway · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't know about you, but I went into Engineering for the chicks.

    Don't forget the beer. Its the one thing engineering students can count on, before and after graduation.

  9. Re:Regular degrees are simpler by gbjbaanb · · Score: 5, Funny

    An economist is not a "bean counter". An accountant is a bean counter

    exactly his point, at least a bean counter can count beans! Economists...

    A physicist, a chemist and an economist are stranded on an island, with nothing to eat. A can of soup washes ashore. The physicist says, "Lets smash the can open with a rock." The chemist says, "Let's build a fire and heat the can first." The economist says, "Lets assume that we have a can-opener..."

  10. Robots can't fix everything I guess by Cathoderoytube · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not too long ago Slashdot was posting articles about how Japan was replacing it's laborers with robots because of it's low birth rates. Now Japan's running out of people who actually build the frigging robots?

    Look Japan if you need help with impregnating your women I'd be happy to help.

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    I have nothing compelling to say