Employment

Drafters held about 251,900 jobs nationally in 2008. Architectural and civil drafters held 47 percent of these jobs, mechanical drafters held about 31 percent, and electrical and electronics drafters held about 13 percent. About 52 percent of all jobs for drafters were in architectural, engineering, and related services firms that design construction projects or do other engineering work on a contract basis for other industries. Another 24 percent of jobs were in manufacturing industries such as machinery, fabricated metal products, computer and electronic products, and transportation-equipment manufacturing. Approximately 3 percent of drafters were self-employed in 2008. Employment of drafters is expected to grow by 4 percent between 2008 and 2018. Architectural drafting is expected to be the fastest growing specialty, increasing by 9 percent.