The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A 2020 EE Times survey found that many engineers felt overloaded: 56% agreed they had too much work to do everything well, while 71% reported pressure to accomplish more with less. The headline’s claim that engineers were “still happy” is not backed by a job-satisfaction percentage in the article, so it should be read as the author’s framing—not as a measured result. These are pandemic-era findings, not a picture of engineers’ working lives today.
What the 2020 survey found about workload
Brian Santo’s EE Times report on the 2020 “Mind of the Engineer” survey, conducted by EE Times and EDN, describes rising demands on engineers. The article says roughly three-quarters of respondents felt cost and time-to-market pressures were worsening. It also reports these specific responses:
- 71% said their employers pressured them to accomplish more with less.
- 70% said they were working on more projects than three years earlier.
- 56% agreed with the statement, “I have too much work to do to do everything well.”
The report connects the findings to engineers’ reported greater comfort with risk, but does not establish that heavier workloads caused any particular design or reliability outcome. As Santo put it, “What all that means in terms of design integrity, and ultimately in terms of product reliability, is far beyond the scope of the survey.” Read the EE Times report.
Project demands differed by region
The article describes respondents in China and the rest of Asia as handling roughly six projects with about seven months to complete them. In the Americas or EMEA, it describes roughly five projects and about nine months. These are approximate comparisons in the report, not precise regional averages supported by a published methodology or full cross-tabulations. The article does not establish why the differences existed.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall#1 Best Overall
Learning was part of the job
Despite the workload pressures, the report found strong expectations around learning. In the 2020 survey, 95% agreed that engineers were obliged to keep learning new things, and 83% said they spent considerable time training themselves on new technologies and techniques. Respondents also described working in multidisciplinary teams and a growing need for expertise spanning engineering, computing, mathematics, science, business and the humanities.
On workplace creativity, 80% said their companies encouraged creative thinking: 34% said strongly and 46% somewhat, according to EE Times.
Remote-work support reflected the pandemic moment
The report discusses remote-work infrastructure amid pandemic disruption to trade shows and in-person contact. Among respondents in 2020, 71% reported VPN support, 65% a company desktop or laptop, 61% broadband or Wi-Fi access, and 51% office productivity software. Those figures describe the survey’s respondents during that period; they are not current rates of employer support.
The article also notes regional differences in comfort with remote circuit design and simulation, but does not provide enough detail to quantify those differences. It offers no basis for treating geography as the cause of any particular attitude.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How respondents sought technical information
According to the report, engineers commonly began information searches with a Google keyword search. Other channels included manufacturer and electronics-distributor websites, webinars, industry media and direct contact with supplier representatives. The article says newer engineers were more likely to use YouTube tutorials and LinkedIn led other social platforms for professional information. It also describes engineers in Asia as more likely to use manufacturer-sponsored communities and mobile devices. These channel observations are descriptive; the article does not give percentages for them.
Who answered—and what the survey cannot establish
The report says the survey drew close to 1,500 responses. It describes the regional mix approximately: about one-third from the Americas, about one-third from Asia excluding China, roughly one-sixth from China and roughly one-sixth from EMEA. Respondents worked across engineering disciplines and industries, though electrical engineers were the clear majority.
EE Times reports an average respondent age of 48 and average professional experience of 24 years; 60% identified as staff, and 93% were male. The report does not provide a sampling frame, response rate, margin of error or the full questionnaire. Those omissions, along with the respondent profile, limit how confidently the results can be generalized to all engineers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did engineers say they were happy with their jobs?
The EE Times headline says engineers were “still happy,” but the article does not report a direct job-satisfaction question or a percentage measuring happiness. The workload, learning and workplace findings above are not substitutes for such a measure. The defensible takeaway is narrower: the report presents substantial workload pressure alongside strong reported expectations for continued learning and some support for creative thinking, without quantifying overall job satisfaction.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsQuick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
