It's no secret that there is a high demand and low supply of electrical engineers in the construction industry. Electrical engineers are involved with every building construction project—but when it comes to recruiting and retaining fresh talent into the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) industry, there are many challenges.


Recently, I posed this question to the engineering community on LinkedIn:

“Why is it so hard to find electrical engineers in the MEP industry?”


The response was overwhelming, with 76 insightful comments from professionals across the field. Today, I want to share those insights with you—combining structured analysis with real voices from the community—and explain how BETI is actively working to turn these challenges into opportunities.

The Eight Core Challenges

Let’s begin by revisiting the framework that sparked this conversation. Here are the eight key issues that emerged as the main obstacles to attracting and retaining electrical engineers in MEP:

1. Lack of Awareness

Many engineers don’t even know that MEP exists until after graduation. This fundamental gap in awareness means that countless talented individuals never consider the industry as a viable career path.

2. Education Gap

Traditional electrical engineering curricula focus on power systems, electronics, and communications—leaving little room for the practical, construction-specific knowledge needed in MEP, such as building power, lighting systems, and code compliance.

3. Abundance of Career Options

Although MEP is the largest employer of electrical engineers in the U.S., only about 20% of graduates pursue this field. EEs have A LOT of options.

4. "Not So Sexy" Perception

While fields like renewable energy and tech capture public attention, MEP is frequently overlooked despite its critical role in our built environment.

5. Retention Struggles

Too many junior engineers burn out or leave the industry early—often due to a lack of mentorship, unfulfilling early projects, and long hours with low starting salaries. This cycle only deepens the talent shortage.

6. Salary Discrepancies

MEP engineers start with lower salaries (for example, around $60–70k in Ohio) compared to other fields. Although long-term compensation in MEP can be very competitive (averaging around $118k), this message isn’t effectively communicated to new graduates.

7. Lasting Impact of the 2008 Recession

The downturn caused many experienced engineers to exit the industry permanently. The loss of this institutional knowledge has created a gap that’s still felt today.

8. High-Stakes, Low Formal Training

MEP may not be the most technically demanding field, but it carries enormous responsibility. Without formal, hands-on training, new engineers are often left to learn on the job—sometimes at great risk.

Voices from the Field

Beyond the bullet points, the real story comes from the people in our community. Here are some of the top comments from the discussion:

  • Kimberly T. (Prior MEP engineer who left the industry)

"Although I enjoyed working in MEP, the treatment of young engineers was one of the worst parts of being in the industry. The older engineers seemed to see young engineers as a threat to their job security, and wouldn't teach them anything. The young engineers with grit learn to reinvent wheels while losing hundreds of billable hours. I firmly believe that many construction/capital projects go over budget because young engineers have to learn calculations that are already been made and hidden in the company's library in the last 30 years.

The constant berating and hazing of young engineers by the boomers was just next level."

  • Ferdinand M. (Electrical Department Facilitator)

"I believe there will be an age demographic challenge in about 5-10 years. Once the 55+ cohort retires, there is "next in line" cliff. Those of us who survived the 2008-09 recession are next in line to lead the industry, and there arent many out there.

There is a distinct advantage to those who are happy and willing to mentor the next generation. I find this equally as satisfying as seeing a major project being constructed. I have the utmost confidence in my patience and willingness to invest time in developing electrical MEP talent.

I enjoy interacting with architects, owners contractors. Each thinks a little bit differently, but if you can figure out what makes each person tick, the magic happens. Its a very people oriented industry and the interaction does not come as naturally to engineers.

I've been fortunate enough to land at a place where the project type is impactful, extremely challenging, and so rewarding. Office fitouts have their place, but you outgrow those for bigger challenges.

These projects are multiyear efforts. Design thru construction, projects lasted 5-7 years. Endurance is a thing."

  • Dennis Z. PE (Owner of engineering consulting firm)

"MEP projects are architecture driven. Engineering treated as a commodity not a valued team member. Most move on to niche roles, where responsibilities and opportunities mesh better."

Other comments echoed these themes—pointing out the lack of awareness, the curriculum gaps, the absence of proper mentorship, and the “feast or famine” nature of MEP projects.


The consistent message was clear: while the challenges are many, there is a huge opportunity for rewarding, impactful work in MEP for electrical engineers.

Top Community Issues: By the Numbers

Our community discussion highlighted several recurring issues. Here’s a quick numerical breakdown of the top concerns raised:

  • Lack of Training & Mentorship (15 comments):
    The most mentioned concern, with many noting that without proper guidance, young engineers are set up to fail.
  • Retention, Burnout & Career Options (10 comments):
    Many shared that the “feast or famine” nature of work and unfulfilling early projects lead to rapid burnout and turnover.
  • Awareness/Definition of MEP (10 comments):
    Numerous professionals stated they only learned about MEP later in their careers, signaling a significant awareness gap.
  • Education Gap / Curriculum (7 comments):
    Commenters stressed that university programs rarely cover the construction-specific knowledge needed in MEP.
  • Salary/Compensation Concerns (6 comments):
    Although starting salaries may be lower, long-term growth is strong—yet this nuance isn’t widely known.
  • Other Notable Issues:
    Industry culture and underappreciation (5 comments), generational dynamics (3 comments), work-life balance (3 comments), and market instability (3 comments) round out the conversation.

These numbers not only quantify the challenges but also guide us on where to focus our efforts.

BETI’s Solutions: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

At BETI, we’re not just observing these challenges—we’re actively addressing them. Here’s how BETI is bridging the gap:

  • Raising Awareness
    BETI is working to raise awareness of MEP careers by collaborating with universities, introducing practical MEP training into engineering programs, and leveraging online content to showcase the value of building systems and the opportunities within the MEP field.
  • Bridging the Education Gap
    We partner with engineering firms to provide hands-on training in Revit Electrical Design, transforming junior engineers into confident contributors and allowing senior engineers to concentrate on billable project work.
  • Workforce Development Solutions
    We’re committed to reshaping the narrative around MEP. While starting salaries might be lower, the long-term benefits—including rapid salary growth, meaningful project work, and opportunities for specialization—are significant. Our career development services ensure that new engineers see the full potential of an MEP career.

Moving Forward Together

The shortage of electrical engineers in MEP isn’t due to a lack of talent—it’s a call for change in the industry. By raising awareness, bridging education gaps, and providing career development and staffing solutions, we can attract and retain the best talent.


At BETI, we’re proud to lead this transformation.


Click the link below to learn more about our next Bootcamp and schedule a call with me to discuss how you can join us in building a brighter future for the MEP industry!

Apply Now!

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Each word is crafted with Chat GPT and guided by an experienced, licensed engineer's insights.

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