Early-career context (study ages 22-25)

This role is in the Elevated exposure band, but its assessed task mix is not automation-heavy. The study found the decline concentrated where AI was more likely to automate rather than augment work, so the headline figure should not be applied directly.

The November 2025 revision reports a 16% relative employment decline for workers ages 22-25 in the most AI-exposed U.S. occupations, after firm-level controls, relative to workers in less-exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations.

Use the task map to identify durable work and the skills worth building early.

Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Canaries in the Coal Mine - November 2025 revision

This is group-level U.S. payroll evidence, not a personal forecast. The authors do not claim that AI alone caused the change, and this context does not alter the exposure score.

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Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Common titles

Assistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorInstructorProfessorChemical Engineering ProfessorElectrical Engineering Professor

O*NET job-zone preparation

Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparation Needed Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.

Skills and knowledge

InstructingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMathematicsWriting

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCADAutodesk RevitC++Dassault Systemes SolidWorksGoogle DocsJavaScript

Work context

Email useFace-to-face discussionsDecision latitudeIndoor controlled settingFrequent contact with others

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, SOC 25-1032.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary tasks, by AI exposure

We analyzed all 20 Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary tasks - 14 augmentable and 6 durable. The full task map - every task with exactly what to do about each - is in your Career Report.

Adjacent career paths

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