What Do Non-IT Careers Become When Most Students Attend IT?
In the rapidly changing job market these days, it appears that nearly every student aspires to enter the IT field. The allure of comfortable jobs, work-from-home options with flexibility, and high-starter salaries quite naturally entices one toward IT. Parents support it, colleges promote it, and friends pressure one another into software testing and coding. But this huge influx of talent towards IT has created a critical question: *What does the non-IT or “core” job do when fewer and fewer students opt for IT Career. This blog answers that very question by examining the supply-demand mismatch, its impact on industries, and the lesser-known opportunities lying in wait for those who hold on to their core disciplines.
1. Supply of Non-IT Engineers Falls
While the majority of engineering graduates concentrate on IT training, hardly anybody stays on to work on their main specializations. Such sectors as
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Instrumentation Engineering
- Industrial Automation
receive significantly fewer work-ready graduates.
This is not about students ignoring these disciplines — even those who graduate in these streams go into IT. For instance, a mechanical engineer may opt to learn Java or Python to join an IT company rather than specialize in CAD or robotics. The consequence? *Firms in these core industries find it hard to source qualified engineers.*
In the long term, this results in a deficit of professional engineers who can design control panels, service smart grids, operate big power plants, or construct bridges and smart cities.
2. Demand for Skilled Core Engineers Continues to Increase
While the supply falls, the demand doesn’t. Actually, sectors such as:
- Manufacturing – with Industry 4.0 and smart factories expanding fast
- Energy & Power – particularly renewable energy, solar, and wind
- Oil & Gas – field engineers being essential for operations and safety
- Smart Infrastructure & Civil Projects – from metro lines to intelligent cities
- Industrial Automation – PLC, SCADA, VFD, robotics, and IoT-based plants
are growing at the fastest rates ever.
These sectors can’t operate solely on code. They need engineers in the field — individuals who know machines, circuits, and systems. No coding can substitute a field engineer in a power plant or an automation technician debugging a PLC system.
This disparity results in a significant talent shortage. The results? A deficit of good quality engineers in the core domain — especially in high in-demand fields such as PLC, SCADA, embedded systems, VFDs, robotics, and smart grid technologies.
Economics: Supply vs. Demand in Engineering Jobs
Let’s break it down with simple economics and underststand it through a simple table.
Sector
Supply of Talent
Industry Demand
Net Result
IT/Software
High
High
Balanced – But very competitive
Core (Electrical, Mech, Auto)
Low
High
Shortrage → Higher value & Demand
What This Means for Core Engineers (Non-IT)
If you’re from a core engineering branch, this shift is actually *great news for you*. Here’s why:
1. More Opportunities, Less Competition
Since fewer students specialize in fundamental skills, you’ll be a standout automatically. Think of being among a handful of engineers in your graduating batch who are proficient in PLC programming, designing an electrical panel, or undertaking renewable energy assignments. Employers are willing to hire such people, and it is simpler to negotiate compensation when you can offer unusual expertise.
2. Quicker Career Advancement in Niche Positions
In the IT industry, thousands of freshers fight over the same jobs — coding, testing, support, or business analytics. Promotions are slow, and job security is uncertain.
In comparison, professions such as:
- Automation Engineers
- Instrumentation Specialists
- Control Panel Designers
- Energy Analysts
- Smart Infrastructure Planners
are not only less in quantity but also much more difficult to replace. That translates into quicker growth and better respect for those who succeed.
3. Global Demand Is Growing
Core engineering is not an Indian need alone — it’s universal. Nations such as Germany, UAE, Canada, and Japan heavily poach talented engineers from India due to their deep technical foundation and lesser talent pool locally.
In light of Industry 4.0 (intelligent manufacturing) and the worldwide energy transition towards green energy, demand for engineers in disciplines such as automation, renewable energy, and smart grids is soaring.
For the privileged skills, this presents promising jobs overseas with good salaries.
4. Future-Proof Jobs
As IT is disrupted by AI and automation, most core work is AI-resistant.
Such as:
- You can’t automate a PLC field engineer out of a job — the engineer is creating automation.
- Power stations, assembly lines, and chemical plants can’t operate without skilled engineers keeping real-world machinery going.
These sectors are always on 24/7 and are the backbone of our economy — i.e., the work is not only high-value but also secure and future-proof.
Final Thought: Yes, It Is Supply vs Demand
The IT sector might appear enticing, but the truth is:
- Oversupply in IT → fiercer competition, redundancies, and job saturation.
- Undersupply in Core → greater demand, greater stability, quicker growth.
What tips the balance? Skills.
A hands-on-free electrical or mechanical engineer is still disadvantaged. But someone who is skilled in PLC, SCADA, CAD, robotics, IIoT, or smart grids will never be in short demand.
As it goes: “In the land of mass coders, the skilled automation engineer is king.”
What You Should Do
If you are from core branches such as Electrical, Mechanical, ECE, or Instrumentation, this is how you prepare yourself for success:
1. Skill-Based Training Investment
Study tools and technologies actually employed by industries:
- PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers)
- SCADA Systems
- Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
- Industrial IoT (IIoT)
- CAD & Robotics
2. Right Institute Selection
Opt for training institutes with *genuine labs, industry interaction, and placement facilities*. Theory won’t suffice — it’s practical skills that industries require.
3. Be Current with Trends
Read and keep track of and emerging subjects such as:
- Smart grids
- Renewable energy
- Industry 4.0
- Digital twins
- Robotics & sustainability
4. Construct a Career Roadmap
Think ahead: core engineering jobs may begin a little lower than IT positions, but the career path is typically quicker and more secure.
The Road Ahead
The world and India require both non-IT and IT professionals. But today, the equation is skewed. Too many engineers are focusing on IT, while key sectors suffer from a shortage of skilled core engineers.
For students brave enough to follow their domain, the rewards are immense: global opportunities, future-proof careers, and the satisfaction of working on real-world systems that power industries, cities, and nations.
So, if you’re from a core branch, don’t rush to abandon it. Instead, skill up, specialize, and step into industries where your work truly matters.
Because when everyone else is coding, the engineer who builds the machines, grids, and factories becomes irreplaceable.